“Sweetheart?” Tanner prompts. “Hm?” “I love you. My mom loves you. I want nothing more than to stay with you tonight. I can see those cogs turning in that pretty little head of yours and I need you to know none of it is true. This isn’t a big deal and I genuinely hate that you’ve been conditioned to think that it is. It isn’t selfish to ask your partner for what you need. I never want you to stop expressing that, okay?” My voice cracks when I reply, “Okay.” “Okay.” Tanner smiles and squeezes my hand.
