Julian's POV
I sat on the balcony nursing a glass of red wine while the street lights stretched endlessly beyond us.
Across from me, Amara stared into her own glass. She hadn't touched it in nearly ten minutes.
Her mind was somewhere else. Somewhere named Ethan Cole, this knowledge irritated me more than I wanted to admit.
"You're doing it again," I said.
Her eyes lifted. "Doing what?"
"Thinking."
A humorless laugh escaped her. "That's usually how my brain works."
"No." I leaned back. "You're simply spiraling."
That earned me a glare. "I am not spiraling."
"You are."
"I'm evaluating my risks." She replied to me while still maintaining her glare. “No, Amara, that's just a smarter word for spiraling."
For the first time all evening, a genuine smile graced her lips, tugging it up
