Lucy's Pov
Adrian hovered at the door, hand gripping the knob like it was the last thing keeping him upright. He was wound so tight I thought he might snap, his shoulders locked, back rigid. He’d just done the whole bedtime routine for me: fluffed my pillow, tucked me in like I was six, then tossed a stiff “Get some rest, Lucy,” my way.
He hadn’t even made it out of the room. As he twisted the brass handle, this weird wave of panic crashed through me, sharp as a damn papercut.
My voice came out small, shaky—hell, I barely recognised it. “Adrian,” I croaked, all choked up.. “Don’t go.”
He froze. The air between us thickened until even the ticking clock on the wall sounded deafening.
My voice cracked, trembling and desperate. “Please… stay.”
For a long, unbearable moment, he didn’t tu
