#30

Ryan's POV:

I returned to the room, a subtle sense of relief washing over me when I saw that Eve hadn't seized the opportunity to escape. There was still a palpable tension between us, but I hoped that the conversation we'd had earlier had at least opened a door for communication.

"Guess you decided to stick around," I quipped, attempting to infuse a touch of humor into the moment.

Eve's eyes met mine briefly before she looked away, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Looks like it."

The small exchange felt like progress, a tiny step forward in this complex dance we were engaged in. As I closed the distance between us, I couldn't help the urge to wrap my arms around her in a hug.

She stiffened at first, her body tense, but she didn't pull away. Maybe she was starting to soften towards me, even if just a little.

"I want to make a deal with you," I said, my tone serious as I released her from the embrace.

She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued yet wary. "A deal?"

I nodd