“Listen, Cress,” he murmured against her hair once her breaths were almost stable. “I’m not an expert by any means, but I know you didn’t do anything wrong today. You shouldn’t tell someone you love them unless you mean it.”

She sniffed. “But I thought you said you’ve told lots of girls that you loved them.”

“Which is exactly why I’m not an expert. Thing is, I didn’t love any of them. I’m honestly not sure I would recognize real love if it was…”

She swiped the back of her hand over her damp cheeks. “If it was what?”

“Nothing.”

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