(Damian)
She was still asleep when I opened my eyes.
I lay there for a moment, watching the ceiling, thinking about what I’d agreed to.
Helping her start a business.
Something I’d said no to before. But last night, I said yes.
Not just to make her happy—though I did want that.
There was more to it.
I needed her to focus on something. I needed her busy. Distracted.
Because the truth is, if she kept looking too closely at my life, at the things I do—the things I can’t talk about—she’d start asking questions I couldn’t answer.
Or worse, questions I didn’t want to lie about.
But this… her idea… it was good. Real. And it kept her under my protection. Kept her close. Safe.
And maybe part of me liked the way she lit up when she talked about it.
I turned my head toward her. She was cur
