Malcolm's smug grin faltered. For a second, just a split second, he actually looked sheepish. He rubbed the back of his neck and avoided my eyes. "I didn't mean to… stalk you or anything. It wasn't like that, I swear. I just… I couldn't help myself."
My brows pulled together. "You've been… following me?"
He nodded slowly. "Since you left the orphanage."
I blinked, stunned. "You have?"
His eyes lifted to mine, quiet and intense now. "I couldn't stay away from you, Ash."
The air in the room shifted— soft, heavy, full of things I didn't quite know how to feel yet. I was still gripping the coffee cup, but I barely felt the warmth now. My heartbeat was in my ears, thunderous and unsure.
He looked like he was waiting for me to freak out. Maybe I should've. But I didn't.
Instead, I whispered, "Why?"
Malcolm exhaled like he'd been holding his breath for years. His voice was soft, but every word hit like a tremor under my skin.
