"Risk them getting attached to you and then losing you too."
The fear in her voice breaks something open in my chest.She's not just protecting herself—she's protecting them.Even now, when she's falling apart and needs someone to lean on, she's thinking about what's best for those kids.
"You think I'd walk away from them?From you?"
"People leave, Hades.People always leave."
"Not me."
"You don't know that."
"I know that I've been half in love with you for years.I know that watching you with those kids makes me want things I never thought I could have.And I know that the thought of you being with someone who doesn't appreciate what he's got makes me want to put my fist through a wall."
Her breath catches, and I can see her struggling with emotions she doesn't want to feel.
"You think I hadn't noticed how he treated you?"I continue, taking a step closer."How he talked down to you and tried to control every aspect of your life?You deserve so much fucking better than that."
"Stop."
"Why?Because it's true?"
"Because it doesn't matter what I deserve.It matters what I can give them."
"You can give them a mother who's happy.A home where love actually exists instead of just duty and obligation."
Tears are streaming down her face again, but these are different.Not the broken sobs from earlier, but something rawer, more honest.
"I've thought about you," she whispers."More than I should have.More than was right."
The confession hits me like lightning, electric and dangerous and absolutely necessary.
"How much more?"
"Hades..."
"Tell me."
"I used to dream about you.Wonder what it would be like if..."She trails off, unable or unwilling to finish the thought.
"If what?"
"If I'd been brave enough to choose what I wanted instead of what looked right on paper."
The distance between us disappears.I don't know if I moved or she did or if we both just gave in to the gravity that's been pulling us together for years, but suddenly there's nothing but heartbeats and held breath between us.
"You can choose now," I say quietly.
"It's not that simple."
"It is exactly that simple."
My hand comes up to cup her face, thumb stroking across her cheekbone, and she leans into the touch like she's been starving for it.
"This is crazy," she breathes.
"Yeah.It is."
"The kids..."
