“That’s what I thought,” I admit softly.
His gaze drops briefly to our hands—
Then back to me.
Like he’s deciding something.
Like he’s stepping over a line he doesn’t usually cross.
“You don’t have to figure anything out right now,” he says.
That surprises me.
“Most people would say the opposite.”
“I’m not most people.”
No.
He’s not.
That’s becoming very clear.
His hand moves again—
Covering mine.
Warm.
Steady.
Grounding.
“But I’m not walking away from this either,” he adds.
My chest tightens.
Not with fear.
With something else.
Something deeper.
“I don’t want you to,” I whisper.
There it is.
Out in the open.
No taking it back now.
Something shifts in his expression.
Not shock.
Not doubt.
Something… steadier.
