control
Eli was quiet for a long moment.
"Okay," he said finally. "Two weeks. We stay professional at work. We maintain collaborative energy. And then, when the campaign closes, we stop pretending."
"Stop pretending," I repeated.
"Stop pretending this is only professional," Eli said. "Stop pretending you don't feel this. Stop pretending you're not scared. Just... be honest about all of it."
"I can do that," I said, though I wasn't entirely confident it was true.
"Can you?" Eli asked. "Or will you spend two weeks rebuilding walls so you're safe again?"