“Wha—Merlin, /what/?” She can’t believe what he’s just said. He thinks he’s hurting her? Of all the absurd, ridiculous … “What?”
I don’t know if I should be around you anymore. I keep hurting you, and I don’t want that.
“What in the world are you on about?” It didn’t make sense. After all, it wasn’t as if he’d been ugly about not being in love with her; he’s been very sweet and gentle about it. They were friends. She thought. “Merlin, you aren’t hurting me.”