Maggie stirred and all Percy wanted to do was tighten his arms around her and hold her still against his chest, but he moved and was rewarded by the gentle press of her lips against his before she returned to his chest. Percy's arms tightened around her, as if that alone would solve all the problems of the world. But the sigh that escaped held the weight of the world as it crashed into his chest with her words.

He laced his fingers with her own and kissed her chuckles. "Try." He encouraged, giving her hand an encouraging squeeze. Whatever she said he could face, he'd dealt with more rejection in his life than he had thought possible. He could withstand walking away. Couldn't he?