false

As Katie’s lips move past Jason’s and her face rests against his, his innermost being is stretched to the limit. Withholding the one emotion that he had kept locked tightly away from Katie was pounding at the door, screaming to be let out. But he would not let it. No, he could not…he would not.

Knowing how she felt, feeling the shift in emotions and understanding them makes it all the harder and he closes his eyes for a moment, his heart seeming to beat a hundred miles an hour. No…not like this.

Keeping any thoughts from drifting to Katie was like trying to hold back the tide, but somehow he pulls it off, though it saps much of his physical strength, and he can feel himself start to almost go numb.

Mustering up the energy to respond and to draw out all the positive emotions he can, he manages a short laugh. “Yes, you better…or else Trooper is going to have the rest of our supper.”

Reaching around to lift Katie’s head back up, he looks her in the eye, his own twinkling, but at the same time begging her. “But you will stay to finish eating…won’t you?”