/> stupid tests and worrying about herself, and Coralyn was
dealing with her dad’s failing health alone. She’d made it
pretty clear that she wanted it to be that way, but still.
“Can I—should I hug you? Do we do that?” The question
felt absurd.
Coralyn’s head snapped up, her red rimmed eyes getting
wider. “What do you mean?”
“Are we not a couple who shares things? Are we open with
each other? Or do we not really talk? How do we connect? Do
you like being held? Do you like being comforted, or do you
not want that? I don’t have to. It might make everything
worse.” It might make it so that we both break down when we
need to stand firm and unwavering.
Coralyn inclined her head. She wouldn’t meet Giana’s gaze
anymore. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to think about
anything anymore. This is too much.” She spun, reaching for
her coat. “I’m sorry. We shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t have
come here tonight.”
“No!” Giana, panicked, reached for Coralyn’s arm. Her
fingers curled around her hand instead, a lucky break.
She held on, stepping in front of Coralyn, blocking the door.
She cupped her face, tilting her chin up to meet her. Her
fingers throbbed when she noticed how Coralyn’s heart beat
there at the base of her throat. Her pulse was leaping. Giana
wanted to slip her hand there, to test the beat. She wanted to
collar Coralyn and hold on. Not put pressure on her, but force
her to realize that she was the one in control.
She wanted that. Her pain and all her pleasure. Her tears,
but not the kind of tears she was going to cry out of grief. Only
the beautiful, sparkling tears from not knowing how to contain