He says gruffly, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, lass.” “I know,” I say softly, gazing up into his eyes. “It’s okay.” “It’s not. It’s never okay. I—” “You’re not him,” I interrupt. “You’ll never be him. That was an accident, which is very different. Okay?” I know I was right about what he was thinking when he hangs his head and hides his face in my neck. He whispers, “I’ll kill anyone who ever hurts you. Including myself.” “I’ll remember that the next time your ego flattens me. Also, that’s disturbing.”
