“Don’t say that,” I whisper. “Why?” “Because I can’t . . .” I don’t know how to explain. “I can’t . . . I can’t . . .” I don’t want you. I can’t want you. It’s just . . . So I say the only thing that I do know for sure. “I can’t leave you alone,” I tell her. That’s all I know. I need to feel it again. My hair falls in my face, but I can smell the remnants of her watermelon lip gloss. “Ask me to touch you.” Please. I want her to want me to touch her. I won’t force her like last time. Ask me.
