"I thought you hated me… for what happened back then."
Henry's fingers tightened around his cup, before slowly relaxing again. "I never hated you."
The air shifted instantly, like something heavy had been lifted, and yet, something else, just as heavy, took its place.
I watched him, the way he couldn't meet my eyes. The way his finger aimlessly traced the rim of the cup, like he needed something to do, something to distract from the tension crackling between us.
When he noticed I was staring, he gave me a wide smile. "What? Did you want me to hate you?"
I shook my head. "You left without saying goodbye. I thought…" the memory of that day washed over me like cold rain. A lump formed in my throat as guilt curled in my stomach. I lowered my head.
"I wanted to say sorry for how harshly I sounded that day. What happened… it wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have lashed out at you."
Henry reached for my chin, gently lifting my face. His touch was warm.
