I squeezed my palm and replied, "I haven't gotten my divorce papers yet, and besides, the engagement was from when we were kids..."

To be honest, these were all just excuses.

The real reason was that I wasn't ready to put my heart on the line again, leaving it open to be either cherished or crushed at any moment.

He saw through me. "I want to hear the truth."

I laid my cards bare on the table. "I need some time to think it through."

He put his hands in his ...