“Well, Daniel,” Juniper blurted out, the words escaping before she could catch them. His head turned. Sophia’s chin lifted from her palm.

Will you still here? her mind screamed, but something stronger pushed her forward. Her hands flattened against the tablecloth. “I need your help tomorrow.”

The silence that followed was the price… her calculated indifference, cashing out. She felt every second of it in her throat.

Daniel exhaled slowly, his gaze dropping to the table before finding her again. “I can’t make it in the morning. The best I can do is evening.”