Jace's POV
I lay there staring at the ceiling, the words I’d just said still hanging between us. “That’s exactly what’s keeping me up.”
The room felt smaller. The air conditioner hummed low and somehow it felt like the walls were closing in.
Ariana stayed quiet for a long moment. I heard her shift under the blanket, the sheets rustling softly. I turned onto my side, facing her direction even though the dark made it hard to see more than her outline.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I said. “I know it’s late. I just… I don’t usually talk about this stuff.”
“It’s okay,” she replied, her voice soft. “I’m listening if you want to.”
I let out a slow breath and rubbed my hand over my face. My leg twitched under the blanket. I forced it still, then gripped the edge of the sheet instead. My
