Ava closed her bedroom door more carefully than necessary after wandering around the house alone, trying to clear her head and hoping not to run into Damian.
Her heart was still racing, her thoughts tangled in ways she didn't want to examine too closely. The walk, the way Damian had followed her without explanation, the way his presence had felt less like supervision and more like… company. It all lingered beneath her skin. No matter how much she tried to think of a different reason, she knew she was lying to herself...
She exhaled slowly and leaned back against the door for a brief moment, pressing her palms into the cool wood.
She had to get a grip. It would soon be dinner time and she would have to seat across from him and act like all was well. Like she was literally losing her mind because of him.
She pushed away and crossed the room, heading for the bedside table. Her throat felt dry, her nerves too tight, and water seemed like the simplest solution.
