DARIUS's POV
The room feels smaller. I can hear the soft breathing coming from Rowan on the bed, my ears and senses picking up every note in the room. I can also feel Rhea behind me, her shoulders tense as she stares at me, not quite voicing out the words.
I take a deep breath. Part of me wants to step closer, to hold her close to me like I've always dreamed of, but I know exactly how that went last time. And so, I slip both hands into my pockets, simply to keep them from doing anything stupid.
"Rhea," I say, my voice calm, as though I'm trying to keep a rabbit from fleeing.
"Don't," she snaps, taking a step back from me.
I lift my hands in the air, sick and tired of the back and forth between us, but that's all that we can manage at the moment. At least she acknowledges me, I think.
