I stayed silent, my grip tightening around myself as if that alone could keep everything from spilling out.
Rome took my silence for what it was an answer without words.
"So they're asleep…" he said quietly, more to himself than to me. His shoulders sagged, like the tension he'd been holding had finally found somewhere to rest. "I won't wake them. I swear."
"That's not the point," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "You shouldn't even be thinking about them."
His brows drew together, confusion flickering across his face before something darker settled in. "You keep saying that," he murmured. "Like you're trying to keep them away from me.
My heart stuttered.
"I am.." I said simply.
The porch light hummed faintly above us.
Rome shifted his weight, rocking slightly on his heels like he didn't quite know where to place himself.
"Sylvia," he said softly, using my name like it meant more than just a sound. "I'm not here to take anything from you."
I almost laughed.
