Without a second thought. Without hesitation or fear, I wrapped my arms around him and held him as tightly as I could. Scott’s breath hitched against my cheek, and before either of us could fully register the moment, we kissed. 

It was slow… painfully slow, but also soft, warm, and trembling with everything we had left unsaid. His hands cupped my face gently, almost reverently. I kissed him back with all the weight of grief, anger, the truth, and the relief. Every emotion tangled between ...