“You want me to crawl? To grovel like I’m a desperate fool? You want me to tell you that I can’t breathe right when you’re not beside me? Because I will,” he promised. “I’m done running.”

I hummed, tapping my chin. “That’s a good start.”

He made a frustrated noise. “Beverly.”

“What?”

“I don’t know how to be good at this, Beverly,” he admitted. “At saying the right thing. At handling this in a way that doesn’t make me a complete idiot.”

I took a slow step closer, towering over him. “You hurt me.”

“I know.”

“You ignored me.”

“I know.”

“You let Sydney think she had a chance.”

His eyes squeezed shut. “I know.”

“I hate that you made me wait for something I already knew.”

Blake blinked up at me, his hands resting on his thighs. “Please, B,” he murmured. “Forgive me.”

“Make me.”

“Just tell me what you want. Tell me what you need me to do,” he said. “Tell me how to fix it.”

“I want you miserable,” I confessed with a shrug.

“Done.”

“Say you’re sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For?”

“For pushing you away. For making you wait for something I wasn’t brave enough to say. For pretending I didn’t want you when I’ve wanted you every single second of every single day.”

“Say I deserve better.”

His green eyes flickered. “You do.”

“Say you’ll never hurt me again.”

“I can’t promise that.”

I stiffened. “Blake.”

“I can’t, Beverly,” he said roughly. “I can’t promise I’ll never mess up again. But I can promise that no matter how bad it gets, no matter how much I screw up, I will always love you.”

I swallowed. “Keep going.”

He exhaled sharply. “Beverly. Please.”

I tilted my head, considering. “I don’t know, B,” I countered. “I kind of like you down there.”

“I’ll stay here all night if that’s what you want.”

“Tempting.”

His fingers flexed against his knees. “Tell me what to do, Beverly. I’ll do anything.”

I almost caved.

Instead, I dragged my fingers through his hair.

Blake sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes flickering shut for half a second before he forced them open again.

“Oh, I’m enjoying this,” I mused.

His lips parted, a quiet sound slipping free. “Are you?”

I nodded slowly, tugging just slightly at his hair.

He let out a choked groan. “I-I hate myself for hurting you.”

“Yeah?” I said, brushing my thumb over his bottom lip.

“Beverly,” he exhaled, desperate.

“Shhh,” I whispered, pressing a finger to his mouth as my eyes shifted to the screen. “Cher’s about to have her epiphany.”

Blake let out a helpless breath.

I ignored him and made him wait.

“She’s rocking those plaid skirts like no one else…”

“I love you,” he said, his voice soft. “In ways that don’t feel fair. In ways that terrify me.”