Page 128 of Less

She shakes her head.

“Please don't.”

My stomach drops.

“What?”

She scoots away.

Not far.

But enough.

Enough to hurt.

Enough to make something crack inside my chest.

“Let's keep it light for now, okay?”

Her voice is soft.

Careful.

Like she's afraid of hurting me.

Which somehow hurts even worse.

“I mean, it's too soon for those kinds of serious things.”

Tears shine in her eyes.

“And the truth is…”

Her voice breaks.

“I don't think I'd survive it if you left again.”

Christ.

That nearly destroys me.

“But that's just it—I’m not leaving, Rusty.”

I sit up straighter.

“Amanda, I want to marry you!”

She shakes her head.

“You say that now, but it’s just the honeymoon phase.”

She climbs out of bed and heads toward the bathroom.

I follow immediately.

“Amanda, please. Listen to me.”

She turns.