Liam paused, just for a second.
He hadn't expected Ava to hug him.
He thought that wiping her hand like that would make her upset, maybe even feel wronged or spark a complaint. He had even prepared an apology in his mind.
But instead, she hugged him.
Silently. And for quite a while.
Liam gently placed his left hand on her head, guiding it to his shoulder, then lightly stroked her cheek. His touch was warm, laced with quiet remorse.
Leaning against his shoulder, Ava asked softly, "What's been going on with you lately?"
Liam's eyes lowered slightly, concealing the turmoil within. His voice was calm. "I'm not sure."
Ava was silent for a moment, then asked, "Were you like this with Sophia, too?"
Liam's eyes darkened. "Never."
After a pause, he added, "I'll try to control it."
Ava considered this. "But if you suppress your emotions too much, won't they eventually rebound? And if they do, wouldn't it hit even harder?"
"We'll see," Liam replied flatly.
