The hope her words gave me hurt so much. I was sure I’d lost her, sure I’d finally shoved her away from me, and even though she’d given me an ultimatum and I’d chosen her over my secret, I still wasn’t sure if she wanted…this. I lifted my head from hers and she looked up at me. I couldn’t keep the fear from my expression, couldn’t stop the ice from flooding my veins. Were we okay? Shaking my head, I whispered the question that could potentially undo me. “Do you still want to be with me?”

She seemed surprised that I would ask that. She shouldn’t be. I had broken up with her after all. It wasn’t right for me to assume anything about us. Pulling back further, she searched my face. “Of course,” she told me. Her hand went to my cheek as my fear started evaporating. “I’m in love with you. Of course, I still want to be with you.”

The relief was overwhelming and exhausting. Thank God. I looked down at the floor as I remembered all of the horrible things I’d said to her. She deserved so much better than me. Sometimes, I felt like I was holding her back. She should have stayed with Denny. He never would have assumed the worst about her and then not let her explain. He never would have dared her to say she was raped. He was a good guy, easy to get along with. I wasn’t so easy. I could be…challenging. I knew that.

“I know I’m not the easiest person to love,” I told her. “I thought maybe you’d had enough…” And I won’t blame you if you change your mind right now. You should go. You’re better off without me.

Kiera grabbed my chin and made me look at her. Her smile was warm, loving, but it was the compassion in her eyes that struck me. “Loving you, Kellan, is so easy, it’s effortless.” I smiled at her sentiment. I hope that’s true. Her smile fell as she stared at me. She sighed, then said, “Trusting you…that’s the hard part.”

God. Truer words had never been spoken. My gaze drifted to the floor. Was there any hope for us? Feeling broken, I told her, “We messed up, didn’t we?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.