Ashton’s POV
‘You're awake,’ she murmurs, her voice barely a whisper, carrying none of the anger from earlier, just a heavy, heartbreaking weariness.
‘I couldn't sleep,’ I say, my voice sounding rough and hollow in the quiet of the room. I finally stand up from the couch, the stiff posture I've been holding for the last hour finally breaking. I want to close the distance between us, to pull her into my arms until the lingering panic in my chest dissolves, but I force my feet to stay rooted to the floor. I don't want to push her away again.
Luna sets her purse down on the entryway table with a soft thud. She looks down at it, her fingers tracing over the strap, then back up at me, her expression guarded but tired.
‘You didn't need to wait up for me,’ she says quietly, her voice flat but
