Except Oaken seemed to be getting quiet on me. And I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why. I mean, he was still his polite, lovely, generous self. He brought me food and water and was constantly making sure I wasn’t too hot, too cold, and did I bring my hat out here? But his smiles seemed fewer. Conversations between us felt heavier. I finally got to see the true colour of his eyes – the most beautiful dark green I’d ever seen, brightening to a cool, lively mint in the middle – as if he was exerting some kind of inner control on himself that he hadn’t bothered with when we’d first met.
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