Third person's POV
Lily was stunned by Dante's sudden outburst. She looked away, not knowing what to say. His words affected her badly. She laughed once under her breath, the sound brittle. “This is so stupid,” she muttered.
Dante glanced at her briefly. “What is?” he asked, surprised by her reaction.
She shook her head, staring at her hands in her lap. “The fact that I’m sitting here pretending like the problem is logistics or timing or contracts.” She scoffed.
He slowed slightly, sensing the shift. “Lily—”
“No,” she cut in, sharper than she meant to. “Let me say it before I chicken out.” Her voice wobbled despite her effort to keep it steady. She inhaled, then finally looked at him. “I want you,” she said.
The words landed heavily in the space between them.
“Not in a convenient
