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After a few moments he pulled away and smiled sadly at me. His hands were still cradling my head, and he wiped away the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs.

“Come on,” he whispered, “let’s sit down for a minute.”

He led me over to the couch and we both sank down onto the cushions. I leaned against him, my head against his chest, and he encircled me with his arms.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I just…”

“It’s okay,” I whispered.

“No, it’s not. I meant it when I said it, I just… I got a little freaked out this morning when I woke up. With everything that happened yesterday, and how much I hate my family, and you’re so good, you’re such a wonderful person… Jesus, Lily, seeing what they were going to do to you, and you were so brave, telling me to go ahead even though you knew what was going to happen… I’d never felt like that towards anyone, ever. And I meant every word.”

But it was as obvious as a neon sign that he wasn’t saying it now.

I was silent for a few seconds.

“I didn’t ask yo