SNEAKPEAK:
“Hey,” she called softly, but he didn’t turn.
“Mm?” he answered distractedly, trying to squeeze her shoes into the side pocket of the bag. “We’ll leave early tomorrow. If we take the back route, we’ll skip traffic...”
“Harry…” she said again, firmer this time.
He looked up, instantly reading something in her face. “What’s wrong?”
She hesitated. Her fingers tugged at the hem of her T-shirt.
“I… I think I need to tell you something. It’s probably nothing. Or maybe it is something. I don’t know...”
“Evelyn,” he said gently, standing up and walking over to her. “Tell me.”
She bit her lip. “There was a little blood. Just now. In the washroom.”
His brows drew together slightly. “Are you...hurt? Did I...”
“No! No, it’s not that.” She placed a hand on his chest. “It wasn’t from that. I mean, I don’t think so. It didn’t hurt. It’s just… it’s not even close to my period. Like, not even remotely the date.”
Harry’s expression shifted, the teasing gone now, replaced by concern. “Okay. So what are you thinking?”
“I’m not sure,” she said quietly. “Maybe I’m overthinking, but… could it be…”
Harry’s thumb traced absentminded circles on the back of her hand as they sat on the edge of the bed, quiet for a moment after Evelyn told him about the blood. His mind raced, though his voice remained steady.
“Could it be… from sex?” he asked cautiously, glancing at her face for a reaction. “I mean, was I too rough?”
Evelyn’s eyes widened slightly, and she shook her head firmly. “No! Harry, no. It wasn’t like that. You weren’t… it wasn’t painful. Not even a bit.” She gave a small, reassuring squeeze to his hand. “You didn’t hurt me. You could never.”
“But it wasn’t your first time either,” he said, brows drawn. “So a tear doesn’t make much sense…”
“I know,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “That’s why I’m confused.”
