I feel it more than I want to.
Sophie’s voice gentles. “Then we start with comfortable.”
Amelia nods.
Then she looks at me. “If I go, what do I have to do?”
“Nothing you don’t want,” I say.
“I mean for the story.”
“Walk in with me. Sit with me. Let people see you ain’t scared to be near me.”
“That part may be acting.”
“I know.”
Her mouth twitches, but the fear stays in her eyes.
Sophie watches us closely. “Derby will ask before touching you.”
Amelia looks at me.
I nod once. “Yeah.”
“In public?”
“Especially there.”
“And if I say no?”
“Then I don’t touch you.”
“Will that ruin the act?”
“We’ll work around it.”
She studies me like she is trying to find the trap in the answer.
There ain’t one.
I’m as surprised as anyone.
Sophie steps toward the bedroom. “I’ll stay with August while you two settle the house and talk through boundaries.”
I stiffen. “Why do you make everything sound like a therapy pamphlet with knives?”
“Because you need both.”
She disappears into the bedroom before I can argue.
Now it’s just me and Amelia in the hall.
My hall.
My house.
Her standing barefoot on my floor in jeans and worry, looking at me like I’m a bad idea she may have to trust anyway.