Rose sat curled up on the edge of the garden bench, her knees hugged tightly to her chest and her forehead resting gently against them. The warm late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting soft golden shadows across the lawn. A breeze rustled the bushes nearby, but she barely noticed it. Her thoughts had been too noisy lately—buzzing like angry bees ever since that moment.
She didn't mean for it to happen. Loki had kissed her cheek—right in front of Sebastian.
Just thinking about it made her face flush all over again. He had done it so casually, so shamelessly, while she was pouring tea in the kitchen. Sebastian had been walking past the doorway, holding his mug, and he saw everything. And instead of apologizing or acting embarrassed like a normal person, Loki had just grinned and winked.
Rose hadn't been able to look her brother in the eye since. He hadn't said much either. Cold silence had replaced their usual conversations, and now that silence had started to hurt.
