“Then what is it?”
Her hands drop from her arms, fingers curling like she doesn’t know what to do with them anymore. “This isn’t something you fix with—” she gestures between us “—this.”
I step closer. Close enough now that she has to tilt her head to look up at me. “Who said anything about fixing you?”
That stops her.
“You’re not broken,” I add. “And whatever this… whatever you’re not telling me doesn’t have to mess this up. I’m more understanding than you’re giving me credit for.”
Her eyes dart to mine, like that’s what she needed to hear. But a second later, they go guarded and hard again. “We already fucked up if you’ve forgotten. Now we’re fixing it.”
“No,” I say, so close to her now that my breath pushes the hair from her cheek. “You’refixing it. Maybe when you don’t even need to.”
She laughs. Only this time, it doesn’t sound so hollow. Instead, it’s gone bitter. “You don’t know that.”
“No, I don’t know anything because you won’t talk to me… or give this a chance.”
Her eyes search mine as if she’s trying to find something. Maybe a reason to walk away… or one to stay. I’d give anything to know what’s going on in her gorgeous head.
“You don’t understand what I could bring into your life,” she says finally. Her voice is softer now and worn.
If she said anything else, I could let go. Butthis?There’s no way.
“I don’t care,” I answer. “And I don’t walk away easy.”
“That’s the problem.”
“Sounds like your problem,” I say.
Her lips part in surprise.
Good. Because I’m done pretending this is simple. “You want to walk away?” I continue. “Walk.”
Her chest rises and falls.
“But don’t do it because you think you’re saving me,” I add quietly.
My words hit their mark because that’s exactly what she thinks she’s doing.
The line moves again. The clerk behind the desk looks up. “Next.”
We’re at the front now. This is it… where it ends.
Or doesn’t.
I glance at her. She’s staring at the counter like it might swallow her whole. Her fingers twitch at her sides. Then—almost without thinking—I reach down and take her hand.
She freezes. But she doesn’t pull away.
“You sure you want to do this?” I ask.
Her eyes close, just for a second. When they open again, they’re guarded and resolute.
“Yes.”
The word hits harder than it should.
I nod once. “Alright, then.”
