Sloane pov
I let out a soft, dry laugh, setting my glass down on the counter with a tiny click. "It's not like it's a big deal, Caelan. We are not virgins. Consider it part of the things that happened."
A heavy, stunned silence fell over the kitchen. I could see the muscle in his jaw lock tight, his fingers tightening around his coffee mug as he absorbed the utter dismissal in my words.
I didn't give him a chance to recover. I broke the spell, picking up my water glass and turning on my heel. "Goodnight, Caelan."
"Vivienne," he called out. His voice was no longer cold; it was rough, heavy, and laced with a sudden, sharp edge of frustration.
I didn't stop. I walked quickly out of the kitchen, abandoning the twelve feet of shared space between us, and hurried up the grand staircase.
Within moments, I rushed into my room and closed the heavy door firmly behind me. I leaned my back against the wood, my chest heaving as the silence of the dark bedroom swallowed me whole.
