[ there! a flash of hope. her fingers are covering his and while it may be the level of contact they’re usually on, it’s more than he expects. archie doesn’t stir, not an inch, afraid that if he does that he’ll jar her out of wanting him around at all. that’s silly, of course, because this is veronica and she’s not going to dart away at the first sign of trouble. if so, she’s had plenty of chances.

exactly, a little voice named doubt whispers. she’s given you enough chances.

and then she just- forgives him? he cocks his head to the side, searches her face for a way that this can be okay. yeah, it’s the answer he wants. the one he’s hoping for. he doesn’t want to jump at it too soon, like this is her putting on a brave face and sweeping it under a rug, and that’s not what he wants. he wants her to be honest with him. as transparent as he’s attempting to be. his lips part when she squeezes his hand and he shuts them as quickly as they opened once he sees she isn’t through speaking. ]

It’s okay if you are. [ she doesn’t have to put up a front for him. she seems genuine but a part of him feels like he doesn’t deserve it. ] You can be mad. I would be. [ not that he’s encouraging her to get worked up. ] It’s never going to happen again. I can tell you that. You’re the one I want to be with. [ he clutches her hand back because maybe she doesn’t want to hear it, maybe she doesn’t believe him, but he needs to say it. ] I love you, Ronnie.

[ he lets out a bitter laugh at that, more at his own expense. that he was going to tell her something horrible happened. isn’t this? ]

I guess we've all had to redefine horrible lately. [ god, what a life. ]