saw the look on her face. The party swirled around the

ce laced with confusion. "It's ju

low and trembling with a mixture of anger and

He reached for her hand, but she pulled away. "You can jus

hysical blow. The gift wasn't the point. The point was the meaning behi

crystallizing the insecurities t

nice enough? Am I not soft enough, like her?" She needed him to deny it.

hloe, who was now showing the watch t

of tired resignation. "You can be a little... di

fears. He didn't see her passion

eir tense conversation. Her eyes immediately filled w

Ava. "Are you two fighting because of me? I'm

va, please take it back. I would

victim, the unwilling source of conflict. Ava was

shifted. He put a comforting

voice soft and protective. "Don't cry. Av

e, she saw irritation in his eyes. He w

, even in a room full of people. He had chosen to soo