d never lik

ent. It wasn't uncomfortable. It didn't press against her chest or make her want to fill it with nervous chatter. It

t filtered in through the tall windows, casting long shadows acros

focused on the documents in front of him. He hadn't spok

er did

er notebook, then back at him. "You're unusually

he'd forgotten she was there.

?" he

y ask at least one unne

fted. "I like to think the

could stop herself. It

iel no

d things she wis

ting the papers aside

ed. "Do you want

quickly. Too quickly.

eyes looked tired today. Not exhausted, but weighed down,

otebook. "We don

urpris

ed him. Pushed.

ry patient

. "It's a su

he didn't ask. He rarely did. And somehow,

, but it didn't feel like

and into safer, quieter territories. Books they liked. Places they'

stened more

eck his phone or glance at the clock. When she spoke, he leaned for

settl

something?" she

. "You us

hy do you keep me aroun

. "What do

uld have shortened them weeks ago

pa

y, "Because I

f the answer cau

. tutoring?"

quietly. "Ta

n a way she didn't

said, to

t this one felt charged. A thin line

s the first

egret it?" he

ret

ting

es," she admitted. "But not because i

that made sense to him

er than you th

oftly. "You b

ow en

rds li

r things more slowly than usual. She didn't

Nathaniel spok

oze. "

fied quickly. "If you

She knew that. Lines we

he no

hovering, no formalities. Just the two of them at the kitche

er how norm

told her about traveling alone for the first time

y laughed-and he looked at her

noti

ways n

ft, hours later, so

ically. No

of his estate, she felt it in her ches

etting co

years, that frightened h

stood by the window

mself it w

anoth

truth wa

sabella made the fu

out of ways to keep