Page 58 (1/2)

He stayed quiet for a"I think so Yeah"

I s what a leap this was for hi this ot you turned upside doith es about our physical relationship" He paused and took ertip over my pals slowly, and then" He turned, pulling his knee up onto the mattress to fully face me "And then I reacted how I did, put the lipstick on you"

"I didn’t mind that," I ads So in the heat of theas we’re honest with each other, I don’t think there’s any right or wrong way for this to go"

He considereda simple, "Thank you"

"And you’re not the only one who has a tendency to overthink things," I told hi ahead"

"That actually makes me feel better"

There was a beat of silence "As long as we’re being honest, can I ask you a question?"

He squeezedto go slow have to do hat I told you last night?"

He was silent for another moment and I felt him shift on the mattress

"After what he did to you," he said, "I feel like I should be--"

"I need you to stop right there," I said I was right It wasn’t just about his hesitation to dive in; he didn’t want to rush me, either "I told you what happened with Paul because I trust you, and because you asked I want you to have an idea of the pieces that make me who I am, just like I want to know about you What happened to o away, because it’s a part of my past, but I don’t want you to handle me differently because of it I’m not delicate and I don’t need you to be careful with me Not like that You need to trust me to tell you where my limits are, just like I need you to tellhis hands over his face "That’s just it, though I feel so out of my depth," he said "That we can so readily cos is still a bit of a revelation My e was a lonely place, for both of us, I’m sure," he added quickly "And I’, that it’s h and what if y--so from me?"