Page 296 of Scarbound

Noeul almost smiled.

“I love you because you’re you,” Duri continued, his voice growing quieter. “And knowing what happened doesn’t change that.”

Noeul looked away. “It should.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ll look at me differently.”

“I probably will.”

Noeul’s eyes snapped back to him.

Duri nodded. “I know more about you now.”

The answer made Noeul hesitate.

“I know you were carrying something I never saw,” Duri continued.

He shook his head. “But if you mean am I disgusted by you? No.” Duri didn’t hesitate. “Never.”

Noeul stared at him for a long moment, then whispered, “You’ll regret loving me.”

Duri sighed. “You’ve been saying that for years.”

“I mean it.”

“So do I.”

“About what?”

“Loving you.”

Noeul’s eyes burned. “You’ll have to wait.”

Duri’s mouth curved slightly. “I know.”

“For a long time.”

“I know.”

“I might leave.”

The smile faded, but Duri nodded. “I know that too.”

Noeul looked confused. “And you’re okay with it?”

“No.”

That surprised him. Duri gave a quiet laugh. “I hate it.”

Noeul almost smiled.

“But you said you need to figure out who you are without everyone around you.”

Noeul looked down.

“I’m trying to respect that,” Duri said. “Even if I really, really don’t like it.”