“I’m done hiding.”
He reached out and took the paper back from her hand and tore it in half.
The sound was louder than it should’ve been. Or maybe that was the silence around them. He tore it again. And again. Until The Oath was nothing but confetti in his hands. He threw the pieces into the air and watched them scatter down the street.
The crowd had grown into a circle of strangers witnessing something they’d tell their friends about later.
“I love you,” he said. “Not despite my fear. Because of it. Because you’re worth every terrifying thing I’ve felt since you came back into my life. I’d rather be scared with you than safe without you.”
Tessa stared at him.
Then at the pieces of paper drifting across the sidewalk.
Then back at him.
“You destroyed a historical document.”
“It wasn’t that historical.”
“People are filming.”
“I noticed.”
“This is going to end up on the internet.”
“Probably.”
“You’re insane.”
“Possibly.”
A long pause. The city moved around them.
“I finished a twelve-hour day.”
“I know.”
“What do we do now?”
His stomach chose that moment to growl. Loudly.
She looked at him. “When did you last eat?”
“Sunday.”
“Are you serious? That’s five days.” She grabbed his arm. “We’re getting you food before you pass out.”
“Does this mean you forgive me?”
“It means we’re going to talk.” Her eyes held his. “Just talk. I’m not saying I forgive you. But I’m not saying I don’t.”
He let her pull him toward the street. Toward food. Toward whatever came next.
She hadn’t forgiven him.
She was still holding his arm.
For now, that was enough.
