There it was.
I had known this question would come eventually. I opened my mouth, then closed it again, choosing my words carefully.
"Someone I used to know.." I said softly.
His gaze didn't waver. "He looked at you like he was scared…"
My chest tightened. "S-scared… of w-what?"
"Like… like he was scared of losing you," he said after a moment. "And sad."
I froze.
I hadn't realized he noticed that too. I had thought he was asleep the whole time. Did that mean he had been aware the entire time, aware of Rome?
I forced a small smile. I didn't want him to see how panicked I was inside.
"You're very observant," I said lightly, forcing a soft laugh. "But he's not someone who would show something like that. He's not like that."
I shrugged, trying to appear casual, but then he glanced back at his siblings, clearly not fully believing me.
"Is he going to come back?"
The fear in his voice didn't escape me. He was worried.
