I took a step closer and put my arms around him, pulling him toward me and inside the room at the same time. With the length of his body pressed against mine, and his arms wrapped around me tight, I took in the scent and heat of his skin. It was almost too much—an emotional tsunami I’d fought hard to keep back, all of it spilling forth now, no matter how hard I tried to stop it.

“I have to ask you something,” he murmured as he put his hands on my shoulders, gently creating a little distance between us, which I immediately wanted to close again.

“Anything. Whatever you need.” I watched him hesitate, run a hand through his hair as he turned away, shaking his head. “What’s wrong? Has something happened?”

“No, it’s not...it’s...” He turned to face me, his eyes pleading. “Have I... Did I... Christ. Okay, I’m just going to say it.” He took a breath and held it, eyes closed. With an emphatic whoosh he exhaled, looked at me and said, “Have I ever hurt you?”

“Hurt me? I mean, we’ve argued a few times...”

“I mean really hurt you. Verbally, or...physically?” He winced. “Did I ever lay a hand on you? Have I ever hit you?”

“God, no. Absolutely not. Why would you think that?”

“Because...because I’ve been so angry all the time, and I don’t know what to do with it, how to handle it. Maya says it’s probably because of the amnesia, the stress of the situation.”

“That seems like a fair observation,” I offered gently, but when I looked at him I realized he didn’t quite believe it. He seemed terrified. Frightened of himself and what he was capable of. Scared he might hurt someone, and...

“Hold on,” I said. “Does this have something to do with Kate and Celine?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “Why didn’t I tell you about them when we met? Why not mention it, unless... What if...what if I hurt them somehow? What if that’s why I abandoned everyone here?”

“I don’t believe that for one second.” The certainty in my voice surprised me until I realized it was exactly how I felt. Deep down, I knew he’d never do such a thing. “Were you in contact with Maya when you lived in Maryland?” I asked, and when he shook his head, I led him to the chair by the desk, where I made him sit down before I took a spot on the edge of the bed, our knees almost touching. “What if you left Newdale because you were overcome with grief? Maybe you needed to get away to stay sane.”

“That doesn’t explain cutting ties with Maya or my fake name.”