Lisa’s POV

The silence between us held for a beat too long. My promise still stung on my tongue, the weight of it pressing like a rock in my chest. I wanted to take it back. I wanted to shake him and shout that I would follow him, no matter what, no matter where, even if it was into whatever hinge-thing Damon had whispered about.

But I didn’t. I just stood there, arm brushing his, feeling him tremble like a live wire.

Then—sudden, sharp—he turned.

“Let’s go out.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Out.” His voice clipped, decisive. “All of us. New Haven. Explore. Walk. Breathe something that isn’t this air.”

My...