The silence between us thickened, pressing against my skin until it felt like I might suffocate.
His question still hung in the air—unanswered, sharp, waiting.
“Who were you talking to?”
The truth sat on my tongue like poison. If I spoke Andrew’s name, the noose around Ivy’s neck would tighten instantly. But if I spun the wrong lie, Kieth would see through it in a heartbeat. He always did.
My chest tightened. I had seconds.
I forced a shaky laugh, clutching the sash of my robe as if that fragile knot could hold my entire life together.
“My cousin,” I said quickly, words tumbling out in a rush. “She’s been going through a rough time. Breakup. She calls at odd hours… sometimes she just needs someone to listen.”
Kieth didn’t react right away. His face didn’t shift, his body didn’t tens
