“Brody, I know this seems strange. I know Clara can take a gift and say thank you. I can’t.” “Why?” “Because tomorrow it might be gone. If I earn it myself, then maybe it won’t disappear.” In that single sentence, it all made sense. She was protecting herself. She was insulating herself from heartbreak. If she counted on me and I left her . . . “I won’t leave you, Aria.” “You might.” “Never.” Not when I was falling for her. She closed her eyes and collapsed into my chest.
