“Like what?”
“Like you.”
Evie felt warmth spread through her chest. “I have conditions.”
“Tell me.”
Evie shifted to face her more fully. “I need honesty. When you’re scared, when you’re spiraling, when you want to push me away—you tell me. You don’t just shut down and make decisions for both of us.”
“Okay,” Maggie said.
“I need you to remember that I’m not Sarah,” Evie continued, her voice gentle but firm. “I’m not dying. I’m not leaving. I’m choosing you. And I need you to trust that.”
Maggie’s eyes were reddening. “That’s... hard for me.”
“I know,” Evie said. “But it’s non-negotiable. Because I can’t love someone who’s always waiting for me to disappear.”
“I’ll try,” Maggie whispered. “I promise I’ll try.”
“And I need you to stop protecting me from consequences I’m willing to accept,” Evie added. “I’m an adult. I knew what Iwas risking when I got involved with you. Don’t take away my agency by deciding what I can handle.”
Maggie nodded slowly. “You’re right. I did that. I’m sorry.”
“I know you are,” Evie said. “And I forgive you. But don’t do it again.”
“I won’t,” Maggie said. “Or I’ll try not to. And if I do, you call me on it.”
“Oh, I will,” Evie said, a hint of humor creeping into her voice.
Maggie smiled—really smiled—for the first time since Evie had arrived. “I believe you.”
They sat in the charged silence for a moment, both of them aware that something fundamental had shifted.
“So we’re doing this?” Evie asked. “For real?”
“I’m in,” Maggie said. “Completely. Terrifyingly. All in.”
“Even though it’s messy?”
“Especiallybecause it’s messy,” Maggie said. “Because that means it’s real.”
Evie felt something unlock in her chest—the tight knot of hurt and anger that had been living there since the transfer request finally beginning to loosen.
“Then prove it,” Evie said softly, leaning closer.
“How?” Maggie asked, her voice dropping.
“Stop managing this moment,” Evie said. “Stop thinking three steps ahead. Just be here with me. Be present with me right now.”
Maggie’s gaze dropped to Evie’s mouth, then back to her eyes. “I can do that.”
“Can you?” Evie challenged gently. “Because in about thirty seconds, I’m going to kiss you. And I need you to not panic. Not pull away. Not start making contingency plans about what it means.”
“Thirty seconds,” Maggie repeated, something heating in her eyes.
“Twenty-five now,” Evie said with a smirk on her face.
Maggie’s hand came up to cup Evie’s face, thumb brushing along her cheekbone. “I’m not going to panic.”
