Ava didn’t answer right away. Damien stood in front of her, close enough to touch, close enough to kiss, and yet everything felt suddenly too loud. Her thoughts. Her breath. The beat of her heart slamming against her ribs.

She stepped back.

Damien’s brows drew together slightly, but he didn’t reach for her. He waited.

“I… I need to go,” she said quietly.

His voice was low. “Go where?”

“To my sister’s,” she replied, not meeting his gaze. “Just for tonight. I want to check on her.”

It wasn’t a lie, not exactly. She did want to see her sister. But mostly she needed air. She needed silence. She needed...