Luke's tail went rigid. He stared at me, violet eyes wide. His hand quivered in my hands, his fingers curling against my chest. More tears trickled down his face, but he didn't seem to notice them.
"You were gone," he whispered, voice cracking. "When Gayron said he left you, I…I hurt him, Xiviyah. I couldn't stop myself. And when you appeared, and you didn't remember me, I…I couldn't bear it. It was like losing her all over again. It hurts so much."
Hurts. Not hurt. I squeezed his hand, fighting my own tears.
"That's why you're scared," I said. "But don't you know? If you push me away, I'll be gone. Not maybe, not in the future. Right now. And you wouldn't just lose me. I'd lose you, too. And I don't want that. I…I like being with you, Luke."
I let his hand slip, burying my face against his chest, unable to meet his gaze. My face was hot, my tail flicking back and forth. Any second, I expected him to push me away or to reject my feelings.
