But he was already moving, already closing the distance between them, already pulling her into his arms before she could finish the protest. She struggled against his chest, her small fists pushing at his shoulders, but he held on.
He held on like she was the only thing keeping him tethered to the earth.
“It was a lie,” he said hoarsely against her hair. “I made them lie.”
Her struggles weakened but didn’t stop.
“Because I knew you’d be the type to feel guilty about leaving me for being weak.”
And then she just...stopped.
Went still in his arms.
And when he looked down at her, her dark eyes were swimming with tears, but something else was breaking through. Hope, maybe. Or disbelief.
“I lied too,” she choked out. “I never thought you were weak—”
“I know.”
“H-How?”
“Calixte had me listen to the recording of Tanya’s interview with you.”
“She wasn’t saying anything that wasn’t true—”
“But she also didn’t get everything right.” His hand came up to cup her face, his thumb brushing the tears from her cheek. “She says you’ll be the death of me if you stay. But she doesn’t realize that I’m only alive when you’re with me.”
A sob escaped her, raw and broken.
“I’m just so scared of putting you in danger again and again.”
“It’s okay.” His forehead dropped to rest against hers, their breath mingling in the small space between them. “It’s just a matter of adjusting my parameters.”
“P-Parameters?”
“I thought you could only be half foolish and half impulsive.” His voice was dry, but warmth bled through the edges. “Now I understand you’re one thousand percent both.”
She choked out a laugh, tears still streaming down her face. “I d-don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he said unevenly. “Just keep disturbing me—”
“Oh, Z-Zacharie.”
But just as he lowered his head to kiss her, it was then he heard her ask—
“Is that another indirect proposal?”
