The space between them was both a good and a bad thing. She was overthinking things, worrying, she knew. So his step back had her wondering if it was because he didn't want her near or if he was just trying to help her with her own confusion. All of it was frustrating. Feelings were hard even if she had harbored such feelings for Quin from the day she met him. Back then they could have easily been described as a little school girl crush but they'd evolved into so much more. And now, well, now they were having to navigate it all and figure it out together.

His words, however, gave her a bit of hope. Her heart fluttered slightly as she watched him. She nodded when he said he respected her though, even went on to smile at his final remark. Because, if she were being honest, she had been thinking just that. Worrying that maybe he really still did view her as such. She knew kisses weren't always the most serious thought in a man's mind but she had hoped, and thought, that it was different with Quin. It seemed that she'd been right, at least a little bit. She was still having a hard time with truly believing it all considering how long it had taken her to admit her feelings to him.

With a deep breath, she stepped back toward him just enough so that she could reach for his arm and rest her hand on it once more. "I'd honestly never turn down a kiss from you, Quin," she said softly, smiling as she said it, "I wanted that kiss for so long. The letter just helped push me into finally taking that plunge."

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