She wasn’t crying because she was sad. She was crying because sometimes it hurt to learn that someone cared about you. When you’d convinced yourself there was no goodness or softness left in the world, at least not for you, the unexpectedness of a tender emotion could be overwhelming. He knew that’s how she felt because he felt the same way. “I still love you, Erin.” He whispered his confession against her lips, feeling close to tears himself as she brought trembling fingers to his face, her touch communicating more emotion than he’d thought possible. “I love you, too, Blake. I’m so sorry I ever left, I’m sorry—” “It doesn’t matter.” He silenced her with a kiss, a real kiss this time, slipping his tongue into her mouth, tasting coffee and maple syrup and Erin. He kissed her until both of them were breathless before he pulled back to look her in the eyes. “I don’t care about the past.
