LILY
The drive home was quiet, almost unbearably so. The soft hum of the engine filled the car, punctuated only by the occasional turn signal or the subtle swish of tires on wet pavement. I kept my hands folded in my lap, though I could feel every inch of my body hyperaware of Ace sitting beside me. His presence was magnetic, suffocating in the way that made me conscious of every shift, every subtle movement.
I stole glances at him through the corner of my eye, catching the faint glint of streetlights reflecting off his sharp profile.
The way his jaw flexed as he focused on the road, the slow rise and fall of his chest—it all made my stomach twist in knots. I wanted to speak, to break the silence, but every time I opened my mouth, my thoughts scattered. The words I’d rehearsed didn’t e
