"I'll come with."
"I'll be fine," I tell Desmond, placing a quick kiss on his temple as I straighten the collar of his hoodie. "The doctor didn't sound urgent. Probably just a check-in."
But even as I say it, I feel my stomach coil. I'm lying. Or maybe I'm just hoping. The doctor didn't sound panicked on the call, but the fact that he called at all has my heart rattling against my ribs. I'm trying to be strong, for Desmond, he's bound to follow me even though I still think he shouldn't be walking.
His gaze lingers on me longer than it should. "You sure?" he asks, voice low and hoarse, about to stand and pull me into a hug. "You don't have to act tough, Lei. I can see through it."
Of course, he can. It has just been what, a few hours since he confessed? And yet, Desmond has gotten bolder at expressing himself to me than before.