Chapter Twelve
The silence stretched too long.
Too heavy.
Too real.
Ethan didn’t move.
Didn’t look away.
But he didn’t speak either.
And I could feel it—
That hesitation.
That moment where he was deciding whether to tell me the truth…
Or walk away and leave everything unfinished.
Again.
My heart pounded harder.
“Ethan,” I said softly, but firmly. “No more half answers.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“You think the truth is going to make this better?” he asked.
“I think not knowing is worse.”
That hit something.
I saw it in his expression.
A flicker.
Gone almost instantly—but not fast enough.
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
For once… he looked unsure.
“I told you before,” he said quietly. “You shouldn’t get involved with me.”
“That’s not an explanat
