"We are in private right now, Lucas," she said, her voice dropping into a breathless, terrified whisper. She forced herself to meet his eyes, though the intensity burning there nearly shattered her resolve.
Her hands trembled at her sides, fingers curling and uncurling in nervous rhythm. "There are no cameras in this bathroom. Your parents aren't here. No one but your family knows about this arrangement. You haven't announced your engagement to anyone."
She drew a shaky breath, willing her voice to remain steady. The words felt like a lifeline, a desperate attempt to remind him and herself, that this wasn't real. "So please, drop the 'future wife' title... it frightens me."
