ke befo

and the filtered morning light slipping through her half-closed bli

ched in th

mind...

ht had h

her like she was something precious. The way she had

ide her best friend, fully tang

rned he

e was afraid she'd disappear. His mouth was slightly open. He looked younger like this.

with how badly she wanted to freeze this moment. To stay in

life didn

ly, Jace

yes opened slowly. When they landed on

he wh

allowed

from her face, fingers

u o

ys that question. Always

said truthfully. "I'

. He just nodded,

that to happen," he said gentl

at the sheet twis

id after a pause. "I just... I

We figure it out together. That

y. "You say that

issed her shoulder.

t talk much-just existed in a quiet rhythm that somehow felt familiar. He leaned ag

e it

't stop sta

not

ha

e bit her lip. "So

hat would you rather I

d. "Then I wouldn't feel like

and came over, placing

softly. "You're scared. Becaus

blin

as r

d. But she'd never had this-the slow burn, the friendship first, the ma

o mess this up,

u're not alone in this, Z

oat tig

going to rush you or pressure you. But I'm also not pretending like it

e could stop them. She hated h

around his waist and buried her face

it," he murmured into her ha

he quiet wreckage of something beautiful, holding on

sed her like it was a promise, pressed his forehead to hers,

nd pushed him

didn't t

he didn't spi

that morning close for just a

asn't just the

ginning of so