His aqua eyes fly open. His gaze cuts through me, and his soft smile stitches me back up. “You’re beautiful.” “You’re crazy.” “The two aren’t mutually exclusive.” He smooths a stray lock of hair. He opens his mouth to say more, but he stops. And then he hugs me again. He keeps his arms wrapped around me, holding me like I’m precious. And he just hugs me. “Thanks for letting me be here,” he finally says. “I’ll see you again whenever you’re ready.”
