“No one’s checking Jason’s bags,” she had declared, glaring down anyone who dared to challenge her. Jason felt her protectiveness, but it did little to soothe his bruised ego. Instead of feeling comforted by Valeria’s defense, Jason felt humiliated.
He hated that he needed her to stand up for him, as though he couldn’t defend himself. The suspicion from her family, combined with the pity in her eyes, only made him feel smaller and more inadequate.