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to say that if we do have one that you have to tell them, because I don’t

think that’s the right thing to do. Make demands. I would say that if we do

decide to see if this could work or what this even is, then I think that

eventually it would be healthy to work towards that. I don’t want to live

something that is just a lie or have to be that for you. I don’t want you to

have to feel like you’re living a double life or be stressed about it. Does that

make sense?”

Kiera could only nod. Her throat was closed up so tight that she couldn’t

make a sound.

“I don’t want it to just be sex. I can’t have that with you. I want to just be

friends, because I think you could use a true friend, if you aren’t ready for

some kind of a commitment. That’s just where I stand. If that’s weird for

you or awkward, then I’m sorry. If that hurts you, that was never my

intention. I want to be there, but if you don’t want that, I understand. If

what you really need is for me to find a different job and not ever see me

again, then I understand that too. Even if it hurts. I just couldn’t leave this

as it was. I needed to tell you what I’ve been thinking about pretty much

constantly for the past few days.”

It had been a long time since Kiera actually cried, but she couldn’t blink

fast enough to keep the tears at bay. She wasn’t sure exactly why she was

crying, or what specifically she was crying over, because it felt like there

were a thousand things. She was overwhelmed, her chest hurt, her heart

hurt, everything hurt, but she never pulled her hand away from Romi’s.

And Romi didn’t pull away either.

Chapter 17

Romi

Even though Kiera’s hand trembled beneath hers, she didn’t shy away.

Romi could see the fear on Kiera’s face. She didn’t even bother to hide it.

Honestly, it just made her more beautiful because she was struggling. She

was fighting internally. Fighting to stand up for herself. Fighting for what