"Lemme restate: Trying to do that is part of what made me, well. The asshole I was. Wanting Carolina was easier, safer, than loving her. Or. So I thought." If he cared, if he really trusted her, if he just let the damn thing happen and spoke like an adult and voiced his concerns and respected her instead of whatever the bullshit frat bro flirtation that could have but never led anywhere because his own foot tasted so damn good-

Things might've been different.

"But you are a better liar than I am so, hey. Talk yourself into it." He sits back with his beer, shrugging.