Ryan’s POV
The drive home was quiet, but not the heavy, suffocating kind that used to sit between them. This one felt fragile, full of something unspoken yet alive. The city lights flickered past the windshield, bathing Eve’s face in a soft glow. Ryan stole glances at her, memorizing every small detail, the curve of her lips, the way her fingers brushed the fabric of her dress, how her eyes seemed calmer now than they had been in weeks.
When they pulled into the driveway, he killed the engine but didn’t move. For a moment, he just sat there, watching her, as if afraid that if he spoke too soon, the moment would shatter. Then he got out and walked around to her side, opening the door for her. His hand lingered at the small of her back as they stepped into the house.
The silence inside
