Watching her smile, I hesitated.
"Do you need more time?" She asked, leaning sideways to bump into my shoulder.
My body shrank. I wanted to move away, but it was as if I had been glued in place.
"Yes." My head lowered deeply to conceal the embarrassment.
"How long?"
I opened my mouth to answer but closed it again.
"I can't wait long."
Confused, I glanced at her. Her eyes, fixed on me, filled with determination.
It sounded like a threat more than a suggestion. But why was I hesitating? I could end this with a simple "no." I didn't understand why I was delaying it.
Her hand rose, gently brushing my cheeks. I nearly jumped up from where I sat at her cool fingers.
"W—what are you doing?"
Elara smiled as she leaned forward until her head rested on my shoulder.
"Your cheeks are red."
*****
I couldn't sleep at all after coming back home. I lay awake all night, only managing to doze off as dawn broke. Even then, the sound of Alex's alarm woke me up.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck."
