Chapter 39. For Luke

Luke

Her gaze meets mine, and the intensity in them makes my heart race. “I thought…” she says. “I thought we could just enjoy this. But you’re right. It is more.”

“More?”

“Yeah, more. But I’m scared.”

Her voice is so soft I almost miss it. Like if she says it too loudly, it’ll make the fear more real.

“Scared of what?” I ask, brushing my thumb over her cheekbone. “Of feeling too much? Of getting hurt?”

“Of it all. I’ve been through so much.”

I nod, absorbing her words. I can see the pain lurking just beneath the surface, a shadow that threatens to swallow her whole if she lets it. “Julie, I get that. But you’re not alone in this. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. We can take it slow, figure it out together.”

“You really mean that?”

“Absolutely,” I promise, meaning every word. “But I need you to trust me.”

Her breath hitches, and I can feel the weight of the moment hanging between us. “Okay,” she says.