The moment stretched too long. My heart was hammering in my chest, and I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. Lucian was still there, calm, watching me with that soft, unreadable expression.
Panic clawed at me. I had to say something. Anything.
"Oh… um… nothing!" I blurted, forcing a laugh that sounded far too high-pitched even to my own ears. "I, uh… I actually got a boyfriend recently. And… I wanted to, you know… introduce you to him!"
I lied smoothly, hoping my voice sounded casual. My hands shook slightly, gripping my cup.
Lucian tilted his head, his eyes narrowing just a fraction — or maybe I imagined it. "Oh?" His tone was calm, almost amused. "That's… good to hear."
I blinked, caught off guard. That was it? No teasing, no raised eyebrows, no pressing questions. Just… calm. My chest tightened even more. Why does that make me feel worse?
He gave a small, approving nod and returned to drying the dishes. I watched him, heart still pounding, trying to convince myself he didn't notice anything. He didn't know… he didn't know…
And yet, as he moved his hands over the plates, something seemed off. His grip was a little tighter than usual, his frown a little sharper.
Then it happened. A plate slipped from his hands and crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.
My head jerked up. He froze. His jaw clenched slightly, and he muttered something under his breath.
That… that's not like him, I thought, my heart leaping. Lucian was always careful, always calm. He never broke anything.
I bit my lip, panic and guilt twisting inside me. Did he notice?
He turned slightly, catching me staring. I looked down immediately, cheeks burning. No… he didn't see. He didn't know…
But a tiny, unshakable part of me whispered the truth: maybe, just maybe… he already did.
And that terrified me.