Lisa’s POV
The silence between us held for a beat too long. My promise still stung on my tongue, the weight of it pressing like a rock in my chest. I wanted to take it back. I wanted to shake him and shout that I would follow him, no matter what, no matter where, even if it was into whatever hinge-thing Damon had whispered about.
But I didn’t. I just stood there, arm brushing his, feeling him tremble like a live wire.
Then—sudden, sharp—he turned.
“Let’s go out.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Out.” His voice clipped, decisive. “All of us. New Haven. Explore. Walk. Breathe something that isn’t this air.”
My mouth opened. Closed. “Wait—like… now?”
“Yes. Now.” He didn’t look at me, eyes scanning the street like he was daring it to stop him. “Before the day disappears. Before my head disappears.
