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“I needed you to know that I didn’t do what you thought I did,” he says evenly, holding my gaze with sincerity in his eyes. “I’m not here to plead my case, but I need you to know that I wouldneverbetray your trust like that.”

“I…” A pressure builds in my chest, one that feels too big, too much. It makes the words harder. “I know,” I say honestly. “I know you wouldn’t.”

I don’t know what I expected him to do with my admission, but a solemn nod was the last thing on my mind. Though that’s all I get.

“Good.” Another slow nod.

His jaw works as if he’s rolling his next words over his tongue, unsure if he wants to let them out or not. I know that I should say something, that I should tell him I’m sorry, that I didn’t mean what I said, that I know he would never hurt me on purpose—but fear keeps my mouth shut. Because I don’t know what will happen if he’s forced to choose between being with me or keeping his mother safe. I know I could neveraskhim to choose.

And maybe that means I was right, as much as it kills me. Maybe this was never going to work out.

“I shouldn’t have said what I said,” I tell him, knowing I can’t let him walk away without saying it. “In the stairwell. I went too far.”

His head ducks as he watches his feet, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he nods. “You weren’t exactly wrong.”

“No, Ezra, I—”

“I was a coward,” he admits quietly. “Ididdo everything he wanted, because I was too afraid to refuse him. I was acting like I was still just a kid hiding in my room from this scary man thatlived in my house. Thinking that if I kept my head down, he wouldn’t notice me, that I could get by.”

“Ezra, that isn’t—”

“But you made me realize that getting by isn’t going to solve anything,” he says determinedly, turning up his face to meet my gaze. “And I think I needed that.”

It feels harder to breathe. “You did?”

“I did,” he answers gently. “And for that I wanted to say thank you.”

I can’t help it, I bark out a laugh. “You’rethankingme?”

“Yeah,” he chuckles. “I guess I am.”

“Jesus Christ,” I scoff, scrubbing a hand down my face.

It’s the lightest moment I’ve had in days, and everything about it makes me want to pull him close, to wrap my arms around him, but at this point, I don’t even know if he’d want me to. It keeps me rooted in place.

“There was one more thing I wanted to tell you,” he says, straightening.

My breath catches when he takes a step closer, his hand lifting to cup my cheek. My voice comes out on an exhale. “Yeah?”

“I meant everything I said to you.” His eyes search my face, and I have to force myself to keep still, to not lean into him. “Youareworth staying for,” he murmurs. “I still believe that.” My lashes flutter when his lips press to mine, too soft to even be called a kiss, but I feel it in my toes all the same. He lets out a stuttered breath after. “Butyouhave to believe that too.”

He pulls back, and I sway on my feet before catching myself.

“And when you realize that,” he says slowly, “I want to be the first one to know.”

I blink at him in a daze, a million things running through mymind but not one of them making its way out of my mouth. I just…stand there.

“That’s all I wanted to say.”

“I…” My mouth hangs open, and the words are right there, rightthere—but so is that fear. “You will be.”

I expect him to be angry, or disappointed, but instead, Ezra smiles at me. That same one that feels too bright, the one that lights me up.

“Good,” he answers softly.

We both continue to stare at each other, but I can see the moment that Ezra is gearing up to leave. He shifts, just a little, and he gives me a short nod, and all I can seem to do is the same.

“I’ll let you get back to it,” he says.