Ruin Me Again

“I understand,” I said. “And I am here now, the right way. On your terms. At your pace.”

Her fingers brushed through my hair again, tentative but real.

“That is all I need,” she said. “Just don’t disappear again.”

I lifted my head and met her eyes, letting her see every promise I could not afford to break.

“I won’t,” I said. “Not this time.”

“Kiss me,” she said.

I blinked, stunned for a mome