Chapter 117

ELIZA’S POV As soon as we got to the hotel room, Ryan clutched my hand tightly. His small fingers were warm and slightly sticky from the candy I'd bribed him with at the store. I looked down at him. His expression was unreadable, as always with wide eyes that held far too much pain for someone his age. “I got us something,” I whispered gently, crouching beside him as I reached into one of the shopping bags. “I figured you and I could use a little fun.” He blinked slowly at me, as if trying to read my intentions. Trust was still so fragile between us. From the bag, I pulled out a stack of coloring books—one with animals, another with superheroes, and a third filled with fantasy creatures and magical castles. I also pulled out a small box of crayons and a few toy cars I thought he might like. “I didn’t know which one you’d prefer, so I got a few.” Ryan looked at them without reaching. I didn’t push him. I simply sat down on the carpet, crisscrossed my legs, and flipped open the fantasy o