“Why ‘you of all people’? Look, it doesn’t even matter if he takes you up on it — what matters is offering. If this is someone you care about, then you let them know, and the rest is in their hands.” Summer’s expression went distant. “You can’t save people from their own pain, all you can do is hold their hands if they let you.”
[ ❧ ─ Instead of answering the question he received, Xavier just nodded and gave another smile before he noticed the look on her face and spoke up on it. “Are you alright, Summer?”
“Just — memories.” She shook her head, dislodging a hair clip. “You don’t need me to load you down with all that.” One hand untangled the clip from the knots of hair, spilling it down over her shoulder.