Kimi's entire body went rigid as the words hung in the air between them. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but not from joy or excitement. Fear coursed through her veins like ice water, freezing her in place.
The ghosts of her past relationship clawed their way to the surface, reminding her of how badly things had ended before. The pain, the betrayal, the shattered trust that had taken months to even begin healing.
She turned slowly to face Kirk, her voice barely a whisper. "D-Kirk."
His face was so close she could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes. He studied her intently, waiting for her answer, hope flickering across his features.
But when he caught sight of her hesitation, the uncertainty written plainly across her face, he took a deliberate step backward. The distance felt like a chasm.
"Is that a no?" His voice carried a sharp edge that made her flinch. "I can see you're hesitating. Am I not good enough for what you want?"
