Her fingers felt warm in his. For a moment, all Alex wanted to do was hold her; then he pulled away. “Yeah, and you want him around when you’re old too.”

“Not in the same way!”

“Yes, but you do, don’t you? You want him around too.”

He watched her let out a long breath. “If he wants to be, yes,” she said finally. “I don’t want him to...to hang around when nothing else is going to happen between us, if that doesn’t make him happy. But if he wants to be with me—” She swiped the heel of her hand harshly across her eyes. “Look, you’re right; I do need him – he’s the only other half-angel I’ve ever met. I need to have someone in my life who understands what this is like. I felt so alone here, before. I—” She stopped, hugging herself.

Alex didn’t let himself feel the tenderness that washed over him; the urge to take her in his arms. “Yeah, except it’s not even just that he’s half-angel, is it?” he demanded. “It’s that he’s him. Look, I’m sorry you’ve felt alone; I do get that. But I can’t handle this. It used to be enough that it was just us, but if that’s not good enough for you any more—” He broke off.

“What?” she whispered.

Part of him couldn’t believe he was saying the words, but he was helpless to stop them. “Just choose. You can have your wonderful friendship, or you can have me. You can’t have both.”

She didn’t move as she studied his face. “Is this really how much you trust me?” she said, her voice dull.

He felt like punching the door. “Oh, don’t even play that card! After everything you’ve just told me? You can’t stop thinking about him! You’re attracted to him – do you think I haven’t noticed?”

The anger was back in her eyes. “Maybe I am,” she said. “In the same way you’re attracted to Kara.”

“What?” He stood staring at her. Where had that come from?

She gave him a level look. “Seb’s attractive. So’s Kara. You’d be blind not to notice Kara, and I’d be blind not to notice Seb. That doesn’t mean I don’t trust you around Kara – even if she wants more than friendship too. Or did you think I hadn’t noticed?”

His head felt like it might split in two at any moment. “Jesus, what is this – the best defence is a good offence? I have done nothing wrong here—”

“Neither. Have. I,” she gritted out. “I’m sorry you don’t trust me. I will do everything possible to make you see that you can trust me. But you are not going to tell me who my friends can be.”