Giving In

I sat up straight so I could look at Al's face. Dejection was written all over it.

"That's not it. I think you deserve better."

I really, truly did. Al deserved the best possible person for him and it wasn't me.

"Nobody in this world could be better for me than you," he said stubbornly as he stared back. I could practically see his resolve tangibly surround him like a wall.

"Al…"

"I don't expect you to love me; I just want to be near you. Can't I do that?" he pleaded softly before sighing and rubbing his forehead. "This is why I didn't want to tell you but you just had to trick it out of me. What was the point of that? Satisfying your own curiosity? Weren't things fine the way they were?"

Again, I had no explanation since I wanted to gauge where he was at to figure out what to do about Marcy. Since that was off the table now what? I could admit where I went wrong.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."