Avery felt suffocated under Elliot's fiery yet solemn gaze.

"Are you talking about leaving the recital early today?" Avery began to explain after a moment's hesitation. "My friend texted me saying that she wanted to take a photo with you after the show. I figured that you wouldn't like taking photos with strangers, and I didn't want to explain to her why we were there together."

"Why not?" Elliot asked, his voice as cold as ice.

"It wouldn't exactly be a quick conversation, would it? Besides,