As Jayden turned to face Penelope, he was taken aback by the turmoil etched on her face. Her eyes seemed to hold a mix of emotions, and Jayden's instincts told him that she was genuinely troubled. He sighed, his expression softening.
"No, I'm not," he replied, his voice calm and measured.
Penelope's gaze intensified, her eyes searching for something in his expression. "So why are you pretending like it never happened? Why won't you call me by my first name?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of vulnerability.
Jayden exhaled, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I thought you wanted to forget about it. So I acted mature and decided to keep things professional so you'd be more comfortable."
He took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto hers. "But the truth is... I don't want to be mature. I don't want to forget about that night... because I can't. It was the best thing I've felt in a long time."
