Kiera’s eyes glistened as she stared at me. There was so much love and warmth in her gaze, I could feel it glowing upon my skin. But there was reservation there too…and fear. She smiled in a way that clearly said, don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way, and I felt my heart sinking. She was going to tell me no. Like she understood she was about to hurt me, she began running her fingers through my hair in a soothing pattern, and combined with the love emanating from her, I felt myself relaxing. It was okay if she wasn’t ready. No matter what she said, it would be fine. We were in this together, and if she needed more time, then she would get it. I wasn’t going anywhere.

In a voice oozing reassurance, she told me, “I think it’s better if we keep waiting. I’ve sort of come into my own, being with my sister. I don’t want to fall right back into needing a man to feel…complete.”

Her words were difficult to hear, mainly because I knew she was right. Denny had been such an integral part of her, and she hadn’t known how to be apart from him. That dependence had bitten our relationship in the ass more than once…and theirs too…if I was being completely honest. Hell, if she’d overcome that feeling while she’d been with Denny, then we probably wouldn’t have gotten together in the first place…even though I liked to believe we were fated to be together, no matter what. But since being separated from Denny, and from me—since she’d been forced into isolation—she had become a stronger person. Every day she was becoming stronger, more confident. She wanted to embrace that growth. I wanted her to embrace that growth. I just…wanted her to do it with me. Kiera wasn’t the only one with dependency issues.

Even though I partially agreed with her—it wasn’t the right time for us—I poured my heart out in a profoundly honest question. “What if I’m the one that needs you?” The truth of that sentence seeped into my pores, stinging me. “I hate sleeping alone.” I hate being alone. You’re stronger without me. How do I become stronger without you when you’re all I need?