Page 46 of Second Chance with the Half-Elf

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She’s quiet for a beat.

“Of being enough. Of not being enough. Of staying. Of leaving. Take your pick.”

I nod.

“The usual.”

“Yeah.”

The shutter clicks again.

I hear her exhale. It’s shaky.

“I don’t know how to love like a normal person, Aeron.”

“Good.”

She blinks. “Good?”

“I don’t want normal. I wantreal.”

She shakes her head, biting her lip. “I’m messy.”

“I know.”

“I run.”

“I’ve seen.”

“I can be selfish and cold and too much or not enough all at once.”

“I’ll take it.”

She turns, eyes shining in the low starlight.

“I don’t want to break you,” she whispers.

I step closer. Just enough.

“Youcan’t,” I say.

She swallows hard. Her breath’s caught in her throat.

I don’t kiss her or try to touch her.

I just stay.

And in that stillness, something shifts.

We don’t talk about love or even name it.

But it’s there between us.

Like the stars she’s chasing, clear. Far.

CHAPTER 17

EVIE

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