changing. It had started the moment he walked into Evan's house, but now, after the

st his, the warmth of her breath. Her hands had clutched his sh

y, but she hadn't spoken either. She had just sat back, her eye

d. But he wasn't sure if he

e pressing down on him. Evan was in the other room, talking to someon

staring down at her hands, twisting he

ft, but there was an edge of tensi

asn't ready to say anything either. Finally, she looked up at him,

" she said, her voice

imself, but the words wouldn't come. Everything about this was new. Ev

y of us expected

you as... this untouchable person. Someone who's always in contro

" Caleb fini

She didn't need to. Caleb could see the truth in

Sophia," he said, his voice tight. "I don't have all the answers. And I d

ing away at the edges of his thoughts. He didn't have the answers. He didn't k

him, her expression unreadable. Caleb waited for her t

r voice shaking slightly. "I know what this mean

she mean by that? Did she think he was wo

tone firm. "Don't say that li

eb. But I can't pretend this isn't a mess. We're not just two people. We're two people

ings for her weren't just about attraction. They were about loyalty, about fam

frustration rising in his voice. "But we can't keep prete

time, Caleb saw something flicker

ly above a whisper. "You know what this means. This can't j

rth it, just to see where this could go. But something inside him stopped him. It wasn't just fear-it was reality. Their families. Their frien

uptly, breaking the silence between them. She walked to the window, staring

id, her voice distant.

wall she had put

uldn't take it anymore. He couldn't just si

almost moving without his permission. He re

is voice hoarse. "I can't do this anymore. I can't

t she didn't embrace him either. She just stood there, lookin

Caleb," she said quietly. "I can't be what you want me

he walked away. Just like that. Leaving hi