He goes completely still. Every muscle locks, every breath suspends, every part of him freezes like I've just said something impossible. I've spoken words he never expected to hear. The silence that follows is so complete I can hear my own heartbeat thundering in my ears, can hear the distant sound of the others moving around in the main house, can hear everything except him breathing.I say it again, because he needs to hear it. Maybe he didn't believe it the first time."I love you, Ezra." My voice is steady now, certain, carrying all the emotion I've been holding back. "Thank you for protecting me from everything that might hurt me. But I need you to be a person too. I need you present, not consumed by vengeance. Need you here, with me, not drowning in rage and guilt."The words hang in the air between us, and for a long moment nothing happens. He doesn't move, doesn't speak, doesn't give me any indication that he's even heard me. He explodes into motion.Spins in the chair so fa
Read more