Dawn
The drive after that was… calm.
Quiet, in a good way. Earl wasn't trembling anymore, and his breathing had evened out, so I should've relaxed too.
But my heart wouldn't settle.
It kept pounding like I'd sprinted here instead of just driving.
I kept stealing glances at him—subtle ones, or at least I hoped they were subtle. Earl sat with his hands neatly folded on his lap, eyes lowered, shoulders finally loosening. The streetlights outside kept sweeping soft gold across his face, and every time it did, something in my chest tightened.
God, calm down.
I was just driving him home.
Just... Just Earl.
…Yeah, right.
My hands tightened on the steering wheel. I could still feel it—the tiny flinch when I touched his shoulder, the way his voice shook earlier, the way he tried so hard not to be a burden. Every time I thought about those idiots cornering him, about Patrick of all people talking to him again, my jaw clenched.
I inhaled slowly. Deep breaths. Don't let him see you pissed.
But then the light turned red again, and when I glanced sideways-
He was looking at me.
His eyes were a little curious, a little unsure, like he could sense something in me shifting even if he didn't hear me clearly.
"You're quiet," he said softly.
I swear my heart tried to punch its way out of my ribcage.
I kept my gaze forward. "Just… thinking."
He nodded slightly, though his brows pulled together like he wasn't convinced. "About what?"
I almost said it.
About you.
About how badly I wanted to hold you until you stopped shaking. About how much I hated seeing your fear. About how you looked at me surprised, relieved, trusting and how that expression hasn't left my head since.
Instead, I swallowed hard. "About dinner."
He blinked up at me and then smiled. Just a small one, soft and shy, barely there but somehow brighter than every streetlamp passing by.
"...Hmm."
His little sound. That tiny hum.
Yeah. That wasn't helping my heartbeat at all.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
And yeah.
My heart wasn't calming down any time soon.