[WARNING! MatureContent Ahead! If you're uncomfortable, skip this chapter. This doesn't advance the plot, so . . . ]
"It's not my leg . . ."
Evie froze.
The words didn't just register in her mind—they settled deep in her chest, spreading slowly, like warmth that quickly turned into heat. For a brief second, she stopped breathing altogether.
Then her heart reacted.
Fast.
Too fast.
Her fingers instinctively tightened against Ren's shoulders, gripping him as if that was the only way to stay grounded. Her thoughts scrambled, trying to catch up with what he had just said—what he had meant.
Because she understood.
Perfectly.
She wasn't clueless.
Not anymore.
A deep flush spread across her face, creeping from her cheeks down to her neck. Even her ears felt warm. It wasn't just embarrassment—it was something else. Something stronger. Something she had never fully experienced before.
Ren.
The same Ren who always seemed calm, distant, almost untouchable.
