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She blinks, feigning confusion. “What do you mean?”
I give her a look. “Come on, Annie.”
Her fingers twitch at her sides. She shifts, like she’s debating whether or not to just shove past me and make a run for it. I wouldn’t put it past her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she finally says, voice too casual. “I just put Robbie to bed. I’m tired. It’s been a long day, and I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
I nod slowly. “Uh-huh.”
That is true. But that’s not what’s going on.
Her lips press together, and I watch as she glances toward her room, probably weighing whether or not she can make it there before I stop her.
She won’t.
I exhale and drag a hand through my hair. “Look, I was trying to be patient, trying to let you have your space. Trying to wait foryouto come tome, but my patience only goes so far.”
She crosses her arms, mirroring my stance. “Cole—”
“No, Annie. You’ve been off all day, and I don’t think you’re feeling sick from jet lag or food or from last night. I’ve been watching you pretend everything’s fine,but I know when you’re full of shit.”
Her brows pull together, and I can see the flash of irritation in her eyes. Good. I’d rather have her irritated than shutting me out.
“I don’t know why you’re making a big deal out of this,” she mutters, looking away. “I’m just tired.”
“Because it is a big deal,” I counter. “You disappear into your room all afternoon, barely eat at dinner, and spend the entire night acting like you’d rather be anywhere but here.”
“That’s not true,” she says quickly.
“No?” I challenge, tilting my head. “So you weren’t trying to sneak off just now?”
She huffs, looking at the ceiling like she’s praying for patience. “I wasn’t sneaking. I was going to my bedroom.”
I take a step closer. She doesn’t move away, but she doesn’t look at me either.
I lower my voice. “Annie.”
She finally meets my gaze.
“Talk to me,” I say, quieter this time.
She swallows, her throat working, and for a second, I think she’s going to tell me. That she’s going to stop pretending.
Then she shakes her head and steps back. “I—”
She opens her mouth and closes it, then shakes her head again. “It’s nothing, Cole. I just haven’t been feeling great,that’s all.”
Her reaction, like she’s on the verge of tears, draws my eyebrows together. Now, this is new. She’s not just feeling off. She’s upset, worried, maybe even scared.
“Yeah,” she says too quickly. “It’s probably just something I ate, or the heat, or…” She waves a hand vaguely.
Before I can register it, she sidesteps and brushes past me to go to her room.
Oh no. Not this time. I turn on my heel and follow her.
She doesn’t stop, doesn’t even acknowledge me, just strides straight into her bedroom like she can shut the door on this conversation.
Not happening.