For a moment, Asher didn't speak. He just watched her lose herself to the fear, her breath quick and shallow, and her voice tight with guilt she didn't deserve. Violet was rarely the type to let her guard down, but right now, it was falling right in front of him.
Before he could say a word, she was already covering it up with a smile that didn't touch her eyes. "Okay, maybe I'm thinking too much and this is stupid," Violet awkwardly cleared her throat. This was Asher, anyway, and he wasn't used to dealing with all this big emotional stuff.
To her surprise, Asher said, "It's not stupid."
"What?"
"Look at me."
Violet wouldn't. She felt so vulnerable right now and didn't want Asher to see her like that. Weak and emotional.
"Look at me, love." He turned her face gently.
Violet finally looked at him, and he stared back. He saw not just her beautiful golden eyes, but the girl who had turned his life upside down since the moment he saw her face on paper.
