Page 209 of Only Be Mine

And that was the truth.

He exhaled slowly and dragged a hand through his hair. “You were drowning,” he said. “After John disappeared. You were barely functioning. Seth didn’t know how to help you. No one did.”

He moved closer again, but slower this time. “I did,” he continued. “I stepped in.”

I nodded slightly, as if that logic still made sense.

“You saved me,” I said softly.

Trevor stilled as the words hit their mark.

Saved.

“Yes,” he said. Almost relieved. “Yes. I did.”

He reached for me again and this time I didn’t step back. I let him touch my arm. Let him slide his hand down to mine.

“I just wish you had trusted me enough to tell me,” I added gently.

He searched my face again. “I couldn’t risk losing you,” he said.

And there it was, the confession hiding inside justification.

I swallowed. “You’re not going to lose me,” I said.

It felt like walking on a blade.

His shoulders lowered another fraction. “Good,” he murmured.

Then he cupped my face.

My body reacted before my mind did.

I flinched, just a flicker, a tiny recoil.

But Trevor felt it.

His hand froze against my cheek.

The room went silent.

His eyes changed.

It wasn’t rage.

It was something colder.

“You’re afraid of me,” he said.

Not a question.

I forced my muscles to unclench. “No.”

“You just pulled away.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

He stepped back slowly, studying me like a specimen again. “You did,” he said softly. “You meant to.”