EVE
The whole car ride was quiet in that heavy, tense way that makes your chest feel tight. Roman's hands gripped the wheel, jaw tight, eyes fixed straight ahead. He looked like he was walking on thin ice, trying not to say the wrong thing.
"You can talk, you know," I said finally. "Instead of keeping mute this whole ride."
He let out a long, slow sigh, the kind that sounded like it had been held in for days. "You stayed away for days, Eve… why did you leave?"
I shrugged, staring out the window at the streetlights streaming past. "I needed a break. I wanted to rest. Reset my head."
His eyes flicked to me, just for a second. "Did it work?"
I gave a small, faint smile, one that didn't quite reach my eyes. "I feel better than I did before."
"That's good," he said, noddi
