He doesn't hesitate. "Failing the people who depend on me. My members, my family, the fans. Being responsible for someone else's disappointment." A pause. "And you. You scare me."
"I scare you?"
"You make me want things I've told myself I can't have. A relationship, normalcy, someone to come home to. That's terrifying."
She's quiet, processing. Then: "You scare me too."
"Yeah?"
"You make me believe things are possible that I've convinced myself aren't. That I can have both career and relationship. That someone might actually choose me, consistently, even when it's hard."
His hand reaches across the table. Palm up. An invitation.
She takes it. Their fingers lace together naturally.
"I'm choosing you," he says quietly. "Consistently. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard."
