Max swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving hers. "I am scared too, Nat," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I am scared that the moment you walk away, I will lose the only person who I see as my family."
He took a breath and looked at her. His eyes were shaky and vulnerable. "But I love you. And I know I can't erase everything that's happened. I can't change the past. But I am standing here, begging you to give me a chance. I promise there will be no more lies or hiding."
Nat looked away, her hands curled into fists on her lap. The silence between them stretched painfully. Her lips parted once, then closed. She couldn't speak.
Max's gaze dimmed. He nodded slowly, forcing a broken smile. "It's okay," he said softly, starting to pull his hand back. "You don't have to say anything. I just needed to try."
But just as he began to shift away, she caught his wrist firmly.
She looked up and spoke. her voice barely a whisper. "I feel safe around you."
