ended up being just like the rest of them

"You messed up by falling for the broken, damaged girl."

Leo blinked, his brows furrowed, shaking his head slowly. "What? No, Annie, you're not—"

Annie cut him off, turning on her heel and walking deeper into her room. "Let's talk."

Confused and anxious, Leo faltered for a moment, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. His heart pounded against his chest, and a strange knot twisted in his stomach. He closed the door behind him and followed her to the bed, where they sat side by side, leaning against the headboard. The room felt smaller, the tension between them palpable.

Leo licked his lips nervously. "Are you mad at me?"

Annie shrugged, her gaze fixed on her hands, avoiding his. "Not so much mad. Just... hurt."

The weight of her words settled on Leo, guilt squeezing his chest like a vice. "I'm sorry, Annie," he murmured, his voice thick with regret. "For whatever it's worth, I really am."

"I know." Annie's voice was soft, barely above a whisper, as she continued to fiddle with her fingers. "It's just... I've been in this spot before. I thought I didn't have to worry about you doing this. With you, it felt different. I was sure that you were someone I could trust." Her voice cracked slightly, and she bit her lip. "I guess that's the thing about trusting someone—hurt is part of the package."

Leo closed his eyes, letting out a slow breath. He wanted to punch something, scream at the universe for putting her through this, and most of all, he hated himself for being the one who added to her pain. "I wouldn't expect you to trust me again," he said quietly, his eyes filled with remorse. "But I'd do anything to prove that I care about you. I didn't mean to be like the others, like the people who've hurt you before."

Annie bit the inside of her cheek, staying silent for a long moment. She wasn't sure how to respond to that—her emotions were too tangled up inside her.

"I meant everything I said," Leo's voice was almost a whisper now. His vulnerability hung between them, palpable and raw. "Everything. I care about you so much, Annie."

Annie looked at him, her heart softening despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. "I love you too, you know," she said softly, her words trembling in the quiet of the room.

Leo blinked, caught completely off guard. His breath hitched in his throat. "You... you do?"

Annie let out a soft, breathy laugh, her gaze flickering back down to her hands. "I do."

Leo's mouth hung slightly open, stunned by her words. He hadn't expected this, not now, not after everything. "You... you love me?"

Annie nodded, her lips curling into a small smile. "I've never felt this way about anyone before. Not like this." She paused, her fingers tangling nervously. "I'm not saying it just to say it. I want you to know."

Leo exhaled slowly, a smile creeping up his lips, his heart feeling light for the first time in weeks. "So... we're good?"

Annie tried to fight her smile, chuckling as she nodded. "We're okay."

Without thinking, Leo turned to face her fully, his eyes filled with nothing but affection. He reached over, cupping her cheek gently, and pulled her closer, their lips meeting in a tender kiss. It wasn't rushed or filled with desperation; it was soft and slow, filled with everything he wanted to say but couldn't find the words for.

Annie's heart raced, her skin tingling with warmth. The butterflies in her stomach twisted and fluttered as if they had a mind of their own. She felt the weight of every emotion in that kiss—the apology, the regret, the affection, and the love.

Leo smiled against her lips, pulling back after a few seconds, his eyes twinkling like a kid who just won a prize. "I could get used to that."

Annie rolled her eyes playfully, grinning as she gave him a gentle shove on the chest. "Shut up," she laughed, her hair falling in front of her face as she ducked her head, trying to hide the deep blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Hey," Leo whispered, placing his hand under her chin, gently tilting her face back up to meet his gaze. "No more hiding. Okay?"

Annie exhaled slowly, her hand resting on his chest as she bit her lip nervously, looking at him through her lashes. "Leo, there's something you should know."

Leo's smile faltered, his eyes searching hers, a mix of curiosity and concern flashing across his face. "What is it?"

Annie swallowed hard, suddenly feeling exposed in the quiet intimacy of the room. "I'm scared," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "I've never... let anyone in like this. Not after everything."

Leo's eyes softened, and he reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers. "I know, Annie. And I swear to you, I'll never hurt you again." His voice was firm, but filled with so much tenderness that it made her heart ache. "Whatever it takes, I'll prove to you that I'm not going anywhere."

Annie's eyes filled with tears, but this time they weren't from sadness. She smiled softly, squeezing his hand. "Thank you, Leo."

Leo leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "We'll figure this out. Together."

As they sat there, side by side, their fingers still entwined, Annie felt something she hadn't in a long time—a sense of peace. The weight of betrayal hadn't vanished, but the love and trust they were rebuilding felt strong, and for the first time, she let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, she could trust someone again.

Leo smiled, his heart full, as he looked at her. "You're stuck with me now, you know that, right?"

Annie chuckled softly, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "I think I can handle that."

Leo grinned, his heart swelling with affection. "Good. Because I'm not letting go."