The café's warmth settled over us after the order was placed, but I couldn't shake the exhaustion clinging to my bones. The situation with Jared had drained me more than I expected, like my instincts had stayed alert for too long without rest. I pressed my fingers lightly against my temple, trying to ease the pressure building there.
Across from me, Elliot moved.
Not abruptly. Not loudly.
But with the kind of controlled certainty that always made my instincts react before my thoughts could catch up.
He stood and came to my side, settling into the seat beside me instead of across from me. The moment he sat close, the space between us changed—like a boundary had been crossed and rewritten without permission from anyone else.
His arm rested around my shoulders.
"Are you tired?" he asked.
My heart tightened instantly.
