She set them on the coffee table and said, “Are you okay?”

“No,” he said honestly. “I really should have told you all of this before we went so far last night.”

“I understand.” She sat down and took his hand, pulling him down beside her. “I might not have told you about my accident yet if you hadn’t seen me dancing. Some things aren’t appropriate first- or second-date conversations. But I would have told you before we…um…before you saw me without my clothes on, because my scars are ugly.”

“No part of you could ever be ugly. Scars are reminders of the things we’ve gone through that brought us to this point and made us who we are. They may not be memories we want to revisit, but they don’t make us ugly. To me, ugly comes out in actions. Ugly was killing that man. I’ve done a lot of ugly things, and for years I was repulsive, even to myself. But when I look in the mirror now, I no longer see that guy. I know he’s inside me, and he will lurk over my shoulder every minute of every day, weighing into every decision I make. But I have learned from my mistakes, and I’m doing everything within my power never to be ugly again.”

She curled her fingers around the cuffs of her sweater and said, “I know you killed a man, but that was to save your mother. I don’t feel like that makes you ugly. You’re so good to me and your friends and to Kennedy and the other kids I met last night. I just can’t imagine you being as bad as you’re describing.”

“Well, I’m going to help you imagine it, and then, if you let me, I’ll help you find your way across the rickety bridge of acceptance.” More shards of glass filled his mouth, and he said, “And if not, then it’s my loss. But I’ll still be around as a friend if you need me.”

“You would still want to be my friend if I said I couldn’t handle whatever you’re about to tell me?”

“Of course, Roni. There’s a reason I didn’t keep pushing to become more than friends for all these months. I wanted to be friends first, to keep things light, for a few reasons. I never had real friends in my life until about two years ago. I value friendship like other people value money and jewels. You’re an incredible woman, but I’m not one of those guys who feels unworthy or unlovable. I know I’ve become a good man and a good friend, and it wasn’t easy to get to this point. I’ve fought hard to overcome my upbringing and my own choices and to understand and accept all of it, including who I am right now. But I’m also a realist, and I know that some baggage is too heavy for others to carry, and if that’s the case, I would never hold that against you. My past is my burden to bear.”