DAMIEN’S POV

For a second I honestly thought I'd misheard her.

School.

The word echoed in my head, sharp and wrong, like a crack in glass.

“Don’t get me wrong, baby,” I said slowly, forcing my voice to stay calm even as my chest tightened. I could feel how fragile the air between us was. One wrong word and it would shatter. “I understand how you feel. I really do. But I don’t… I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Her brows knit together instantly.

“What do you mean?” she asked, confusion flashing across her face.

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us. I reached for her hand,...