Oliver's POV
I walked back into the kitchen, the air still smelling like the breakfast she had barely touched. I watched her, looking for a sign—a twitch of guilt, a slip of the tongue, anything that said she was second-guessing her choice.
"Are you done eating?" I asked, my voice sounding hollow to my ears.
Aurora stood up, offering me a small, tight smile. "Yes, and I should probably get going, Oliver. I want to pay a visit to my brother at the hospital, and from there, I think I'll stop at the salon. I need a little bit of a 'me' day."
The lie was so smooth, so effortless, it made my skin crawl.
"Let me join you," I said, stepping closer, my eyes searching hers for any sign of guilt... but I saw nothing. "I can clear my schedule. We can see James together, and then I'll accompany you to the salon... we can spend all day together."
