The room was so quiet it felt like the walls were holding their breath.
Jake stood in the middle of Katherine’s room, his fists clenched at his sides. His jaw was tight, his eyes unreadable—but there was something behind them. Something dark. Possessive. Hurt.
Katherine took a step back.
“Jake, it’s not what you think—”
“You had Neon in your room,” he said, his voice calm. Too calm. “At midnight. While you were wearing that.”
She glanced down at herself—hoodie, shorts. Harmless. But to Jake, nothing was harmless when it came to her.
“I needed someone to talk to,” she said honestly.
He raised a brow. “And I wasn’t an option?”
“You weren’t here,” she replied. “And when you are, sometimes it’s like I’m still alone.”
Jake flinched.
It was a small movement, barely noticeable—but she s
