Noah sat there, caught off guard by the sudden question. 'She really doesn't get it,' he thought. 'She sees what she wants to see - some hero who saved her life. But that's not me. That's never been me.'
The silence stretched between them, heavy with expectation. Lila's hopeful expression made something twist uncomfortably in his chest. Not guilt - he didn't do guilt. But something else, something that reminded him just how far apart their worlds really were.
'She deserves better than this,' he thought, studying her face. 'Better than some fabricated hero she's built up in her mind. Better than someone who'd play along just to avoid an awkward moment.'
He thought about the kiss on Cannadah, how genuine her relief had been. How real her emotions were, even now. That was the problem, wasn't it? She was honest, open, wearing her heart on her sleeve. Meanwhile, he calculated every move, every word, every action.
'And that's exactly why this would never work.'
