I swallowed a couple of times, stuck on the fact that he said “happened.” That he was talking about us as if it was all in the past, and I let myself feel that.

It hurt.

“I do have to thank you. For what you did today, for what you did for me that night.” I shook my head, trying hard to find the right words, the ones Easton needed to hear from me. “I was humiliated and scared that night. I felt so fucking angry that I had to be in that situation, that these things keep happening. But it was not right to take all that out on you.” I closed my eyes for this last part because I was afraid of what I’d see when I said it. “Because you were right, I would’ve done the same. If our roles had been reversed I would’ve done anything I could to get you out of that situation.”

When I opened my eyes I saw him dip his head in acknowledgment, but still his lips were sealed. Easton was no longer open to me. I’d lost that.

I needed to pour my soul out right in this hallway, because for some reason Easton was still willing to let my sorry ass waste his time. I took one deep breath and lifted my eyes to his face, and made sure he saw exactly how much I needed to tell him this.

“It’s funny. I’ve spent so much energy keeping myself as far away as I could from love that could wound me.” His eyes widened at my words, but still he did not budge. Even with my heart pounding out off my chest. “Except you never hurt me like I’ve hurt you. I let my fears turn me into someone who’s careless with the people he loves.” I shook my head when he gasped and made myself say, “No, not people, you, with you, the man I love.”

My head and heart were pounding and my mouth was bone-dry, waiting for a reaction from Easton. His throat moved, and he closed his eyes, the boxes still clutched to his chest.

“Patrice, I understand why you were upset that night. I get it. I just,” he said, moving a little closer to where I was standing, his eyes sad, but there was still just a glimmer of something there that made me hold on to hope. “I can’t keep getting pushed away every time things go awry. My parents have made me feel like I wasn’t enough, my whole life. I can’t do that with you too, no matter how much I love you. I know that you don’t think you and I could ever be on the same side of the things that you fight for—”