Merlina stopped, but didn't turn.
Her shoulders stiffened, like she was trying to hold herself together. The sharp halt in her steps was enough to make Phoebe falter too.
"No, not now," Merlina said, her voice clipped. "I have something I need to do inside."
Craig took a step forward before he could stop himself. "It'll only take a second."
He watched Merlina. Her arms were tense, and her fingers shook a little, like she was holding something in. The wind blew a piece of hair across her face, and something about the way she didn't move to tuck it away made him ache.
Phoebe glanced between them. Her eyes narrowed slightly—reading the tension, recognizing it. She looked like she wanted to stay, but knew better.
"I'll be inside," she said, her voice light but measured. She gave Merlina a small look, somewhere between a warning and a quiet nudge, then turned and walked away.
And just like that, the space between him and Merlina thickened with silence.
