The quiet purr of the car's engine surrounded her as she settled in the backseat, her hands resting awkwardly on her lap. She peeked out the window, the city lights smearing into golden and white trails. No amount of luxury—or Elion's composed calm—could shake the anxious feeling twisting in her gut. She shifted slightly in her seat, her fingers nervously gripped the folds of her dress.
"Take it easy," Elion said, his deep voice breaking the quiet, carrying a surprising hint of gentleness that caught hef off guard.
Raelynn turned her head to look at him, blinking. "What?"
"You're nervous," he said, not as a question but as a fact. His eyes flicked to hers, impossible to read. "Don't be. Just follow my lead, and you'll be fine."
His assurance did little to ease the flutter in her stomach. "I'm not nervous," she muttered, but the uncertainty in her voice betrayed her.
