The question hung in the air between us like a delicate bubble that might burst at any moment. Chloe's hand remained over mine, her eyes searching my face for an answer I wasn't sure I could give.
"Chloe," I said carefully, "that's not a fair question."
"Life isn't fair," she replied, her thumb tracing a small circle on the back of my hand. "But hypothetically speaking, if circumstances were different..."
I pulled my hand away gently, creating some distance between us. "But they're not different. You are Evelyn's aunt, and I care about her."
"Even after tonight?"
"Especially after tonight," I said, though the words felt heavier than I expected. "What happened doesn't change how I feel about her."
Chloe leaned back in her chair, a wistful smile playing at her lips. "I thought you might say that. It's one of the things I find most attractive about you."
"Chloe, we should probably talk about something else."
