Ava's POV
The phone was still in her hand when Leo walked back in.
He must have heard it buzz through the door. Or maybe he had never gone far. Either way, he was back in the room before she had fully processed the message, and he crossed to her in three steps and looked at the screen without touching it.
She watched his face.
Nothing changed in it. That was the part that broke something loose inside her chest. He read those words we come in for both of you and his expression didn't move. Because this was normal to him. Because this was just Tuesday. Because this was the world he lived in and had been living in the entire time he was holding her hand through her fever and telling her she was safe.
She stepped back.
"Ava"
"Don't." The word came out sharp and she meant it that way. "Don't say my name like that."
"Like what?"
