Page 78 of Connor

Connor smirked. "Good different or bad different?"

I didn’t answer.

Because I didn’t know.

Because all I could think about was the way he had looked at me that morning. The way his hands had lingered on my stomach like he was finally starting to believe this was real. The way he was still here.

And suddenly, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

I didn’t care if it was reckless. Didn’t care if it hurt. I had to say it. "I love you."

It was a desperate whisper. One I hoped would change his mind, if he really didn’t want to leave. So soft I almost wondered if I had said it at all. But I knew I did. Because the moment the words left my lips, Connor froze.

My heart slammed against my ribs, my lungs tight, my pulse hammering in my ears.

But I wasn’t done.

"And I need to know if you want to stay or if you just feel obligated to, because I think it’s going to ruin me if you leave again. I need to know you’re all in, Con."

I had never sounded so small.

Connor didn’t move.

He juststaredat me.

Like he was processing every possible way to react. Like he was fightingevery instincthe had to run.

And just when I thought this was the moment he destroyed me—

He moved. Slowly. Carefully. His footsteps were soft against the floor, his body lowering, lowering—until he was kneeling in front of me.

My breath stuttered.

His hands cupped my face, warm, steady, his thumbs brushing over my cheekbones like he was trying to memorize me. I felt the rough callouses of his fingers, the heat of his skin, the way he was close,so fucking close—but not saying a word.

Then—he leaned in. His forehead pressed against mine. His breath was warm, even. Grounding. And when he finally spoke, his voice was rough and quiet. "I’m not going anywhere."

My breath caught. Because it wasn’t an I love you too. It wasn’t some perfect, romantic declaration. But it was Connor. Connor who’d told me over and over we weren’t anything. Connor who’d told me over and over that he was going to break my heart. I guess he had, but now he was telling me he’d stay. And right now? That was enough. Because he was still here.

His words settled over me like a weight—heavy, solid,real.

I wasn’t sure how long I stayed there, just breathing him in, feeling his skin against mine, his presence grounding me in a way I hadn’t even realized I needed. My heart thumped, unsteady, like it wasn’t sure how to process what had just happened.

He wasn’t leaving.

He wasn’t running.

And that terrified me.

Because I had been bracing for it. Preparing myself for the moment he pulled away, grabbed his keys, and disappeared like he always did when things got too close, tooreal.

But he didn’t.

Connor stayed.

And for the first time since this whole mess started, I felt something inside meloosen.

His hands hadn’t moved, still cupping my face, thumbs stroking absentmindedly over my cheekbones. His touch wasn’t rough, wasn’t demanding. It was careful. Like he was waiting for me to tell him what to do next.

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