"Nobody had ever said that."
Silver pulled back from the kiss before it could deepen, her hands shaking against Eli's chest.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "That was—I shouldn't have—"
"Don't." His hand came up to cup her face, his thumb brushing across her cheekbone. "Don't apologize for that."
"I wasn't thinking."
"Good. Stop thinking." His eyes searched hers. "What do you feel?"
Everything. Too much. Her chest was too tight and her throat burned and somewhere deep inside something was cracking open in a way that felt like breaking but also like finally being able to breathe.
"I don't know," she whispered.
"Yes you do."
He was right. She did know. She'd known for weeks, maybe months. Since that first study session where he'd made her laugh despite herself. Since the coffee shop where she'd defended him to strangers. Since every moment they'd spent dancing around what was happening between them.
She knew. She just didn't know how to say it.
