Chapter 97

• "It's this.... it's so easy for you to say it, but do you ever stop to think it's not easy for me to believe it? You never treated me like you loved me, not once in our life together, and now you're asking me to put blind faith in you and step back where I'll be completely immersed in you again." She gets up and walks to him, so she towers over him, using her robe sleeve to dry her cheeks and sniff through the now never-ending stream she has zero control over. "I don't know what it is I would be getting. If it's how we were back then, I don't want it. I have nothing to reference except an empty marriage that pushed us to break. Endless years of you hurting me where I was endlessly sad."
• Leon lifts his head and squints at her, confusion sweeping over his expression, and then he sits up. Locking his focus on her, he softens at what she's saying.
• "It wouldn't be like that. You're right, I never treated you like I loved you, and I never once treated you like my girlfriend or wife. This would be different. I'm different." Leon slides to the front of the couch and stands up, so he towers over her, all anger dissipating in him as he steps to her and automatically wipes her face with his sleeve. Gentle, caring, attentive affection that makes her swallow hard and hiccup.