Page 49 of The Prime-Time Experiment

Declan’s brow lifted slightly. “Yeah?”

A moment passed before Riley continued, though there was a subtle shift in her focus now.

“Ebony has been present for several sessions,” she said. “She’s been helping me with the data.”

Declan stilled, his attention sharpening immediately. “Helping?” he repeated.

Riley nodded. “She logs the observations. She notices things most people don’t, including sometimes myself. She’s an amazing asset.”

Declan let out a quiet breath, his hand dragging briefly through his hair as he looked away, processing that. “I thought she was just… here,” he admitted. “Watching, spending time with you.”

Riley didn’t interrupt.

“She doesn’t usually get given that kind of space straight away,” he added, quieter now. “People tend to assume she’ll struggle with it. Or that it’ll be too much.”

The words sat heavier than he intended. Riley watched him for a moment, something in her expression shifting into something not sharper or analytical, but… steadier. More considered.

“She hasn’t struggled,” Riley said.

Declan huffed a quiet breath. “I should’ve thought to ask her if she wants to come more often, or include her. I just… didn’t want to push her into something she didn’t want.”

Riley’s gaze didn’t waver. “You didn’t underestimate her,” she said.

Declan glanced back at her, a faint frown pulling at his expression. “Feels like I did.”

Riley shook her head, small but certain. “You made sure she was comfortable first,” she said. “That matters more.”

The phrasing was simpler than her usual precision, but it held. Declan didn’t respond immediately.

Riley shifted slightly where she stood, her fingers brushing lightly against the edge of her laptop before stilling again.

“She chose to engage,” she continued. “That wasn’t forced. It wasn’t expected of her.” A brief pause. “That’s why it worked, you’re a great support to her, Declan. Don’t underestimate that.”

Declan exhaled slowly, some of the tension in his shoulders easing, though not completely. “Yeah,” he said. “Alright.”

Riley hesitated for a fraction of a second before adding, more quietly now, “She enjoys being here.” Her gaze flicked toward the stairs, then back to him. “And it’s clear she loves to spend time with you.”

Declan’s expression shifted, something softer threading through it, though he didn’t comment on it directly. Riley held his gaze for a moment longer before finishing, her tone still calm, but no longer entirely detached.

“The reason why she’s so capable is because she has you.”

Declan let out a quiet breath, something in his posture settling in a way it hadn’t been a moment ago. “That means a lot coming from you, Riles,” he said.

She wasn’t sure why it would be, why he’d care so much about her opinion, but the thought warmed her. He then pushed himself off the wall slightly, his focus seemingly shifting with her comment.

“Can I ask you something?” he said.

Riley nodded. He glanced briefly at the board, then back at her. “You’re… exact about all of this,” he said. “The structure, the way the experiment is built.” A small pause. “This clearly isn’t just an academic pursuit for you.”

His gaze held hers, steady yet not intrusive. “So what is it?” he asked. “Why does it matter this much to you?”

Riley’s attention dropped to her laptop, though the screen had already blurred into something indistinct. The answer existed, she knew that it did. It had always been there, underlying every framework she built and every variable she tried to control. But translating it? Opening herself up to her emotions and motivations? That was different.

“It addresses—” she started, then stopped. No, that didn’t sound right. Too clinical.

“It prevents—” Another pause. Her brow tightened slightly. No, not that either.

Declan didn’t interrupt, he just watched her, his attention steady in a way that didn’t demand her to rush her thoughts.