Chapter 40

The silence settled like a bad joke, the remnants of the carefree mood of earlier fully dissipating as we both waited on what was going to be said next. I ended up looking away and starting intently at where the wall met the ceiling, the awkward atmosphere causing the grimace to remain permanently etched into the corners of my mouth as I began to regret ruining the lighter atmosphere. I risked a glance in his direction, surprised to find him looking at me with a pretty determined expression on his face. "I don't want to hate you, Evelyn," He suddenly declared, the response admittedly causing my eyes to snap to his in surprise, "And I don't want you to hate me." Before I could even think of a reply he seemed to straighten his posture and lock eyes with me fully, the determination on his face never dissipating as the tiredness left him for a moment, "The universe had dealt us a shitty hand, and all we can do is ride it out. It's not perfect. Actually, if anythin