CLAIRE
Agreeing to meet Aiden wasn't about forgiveness or comfort. It was about admitting that pretending nothing had changed was no longer working. The questions had been piling up in my head, circling without landing, and I needed to stop carrying them alone. Avoiding him had bought me time, but it hadn't brought clarity, and the uncertainty was starting to seep into everything else.
I sent the message before I could overthink it.
We need to talk. Public place.
I didn't soften it. I didn't explain myself. If I paused too long, I knew I would talk myself out of it.
His reply came quickly.
Where.
That simplicity irritated me more than hesitation would have. It meant he was ready. It meant I didn't have the excuse of catching him off guard or delaying the inevitable.
