Chapter 21

LIAM

“The people in the bushes would probably find it weird if we don’t go on the Ferris wheel, huh?” I say, keeping my voice light.

Emilia hums, subtly glancing over her shoulder, but it’s obvious enough.

So she didn’t notice them before.

Her frown deepens, but she shrugs. “Well, I live to disappoint expectations.”

I bark out a laugh. Of course she does.

For a second, I reach for her hand. But at the last moment, I change course and grab her wrist instead.

She’s been avoiding holding my hand all day. Not outright, just small things like pretending to adjust her bag, tucking her hair behind her ear, reaching for her phone.

At first, I thought it’s the whole out of sight, out of mind thing.

If she doesn’t hold my hand, maybe she can pretend these last two weeks didn’t happen. Maybe she can even pretend that I was there. I didn’t have the right to feel weird about it.

At the restaurant, I caught a glimpse of her arm.

Th