Cregan had been trying to get a response from you all day, his eyes flicking to yours every now and then, searching for a hint of the smile you always wore. But all he got in return was the cold silence you’d wrapped yourself in. It wasn’t like you to act this way, to purposely avoid his gaze and shut him out with your quiet treatment.

Every attempt he made to pull you into conversation seemed to bounce off the wall you had constructed between you. He tried joking, he tried asking what was wrong, but you simply refused to answer. And now, at the end of the day, you were sitting next to each other on the couch, the tension hanging thick in the air. He couldn’t take it anymore.

He stood, the frustration in his posture clear as he finally turned to face you. His jaw clenched, his brow furrowed, and he crossed his arms over his chest. You refused to look at him, your eyes trained on the window, as if the world outside held more interest than the person right in front of you.

“You’ve been ignoring me all day,” he said, his voice tight, frustration creeping into his tone. “What’s the deal?”