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/> stupid tests and worrying about herself, and Coralyn was

dealing with her dad’s failing health alone. She’d made it

pretty clear that she wanted it to be that way, but still.

“Can I—should I hug you? Do we do that?” The question

felt absurd.

Coralyn’s head snapped up, her red rimmed eyes getting

wider. “What do you mean?”

“Are we not a couple who shares things? Are we open with

each other? Or do we not really talk? How do we connect? Do

you like being held? Do you like being comforted, or do you

not want that? I don’t have to. It might make everything

worse.” It might make it so that we both break down when we

need to stand firm and unwavering.

Coralyn inclined her head. She wouldn’t meet Giana’s gaze

anymore. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to think about

anything anymore. This is too much.” She spun, reaching for

her coat. “I’m sorry. We shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t have

come here tonight.”

“No!” Giana, panicked, reached for Coralyn’s arm. Her

fingers curled around her hand instead, a lucky break.

She held on, stepping in front of Coralyn, blocking the door.

She cupped her face, tilting her chin up to meet her. Her

fingers throbbed when she noticed how Coralyn’s heart beat

there at the base of her throat. Her pulse was leaping. Giana

wanted to slip her hand there, to test the beat. She wanted to

collar Coralyn and hold on. Not put pressure on her, but force

her to realize that she was the one in control.

She wanted that. Her pain and all her pleasure. Her tears,

but not the kind of tears she was going to cry out of grief. Only

the beautiful, sparkling tears from not knowing how to contain