"Hey, it's seriously alright," Zade said, his voice softening further.
Truthfully, when Rai had first started frantically searching, Zade hadn't believed he was innocent.
He had assumed it was another one of Rai's stubborn games, hiding something just to watch Zade look for it. But as the conversation dragged on, watching the sharp, defensive anger in Rai's eyes melt into genuine, fragile despair, Zade realized the truth.
Rai was entirely innocent. He was terrified because he genuinely didn't know what had happened.
"I actually have no idea how I lost it," Rai muttered again, his voice dropping to a whisper.
Zade sighed, stepping closer, and a heavy, warm palm landed on Rai's back, giving it a reassuring pat.
"It's alright, let it go."
"It's not alright!" Rai ripped himself away from the touch, pacing the small space of the bedroom. "How did it go missing? Did someone steal it? Did someone reach into my bag?"
