“You’re…” she whispered, studying me with wary eyes. “You?” “No.” Resisting the urge to bow my head in shame, I held my ground and forced myself to keep eye contact. “But I’m…trying.” To give this girl what she needed. What she deserved. It was too much—her, the moment, my feelings, the way my heart beat for her—it was all too fucking much. And still, I remained completely motionless, letting her take her fill. “Joe.” Her fingers tightened around mine. “Joe.” “Just have to get through one hour at a time, right?” With tear-filled eyes, she nodded rapidly and gave me a pained smile. “Right.”
