It was difficult not to startle when he shouted; when he grabbed her hand so tightly. But she did not pull away, instead squeezing his hand in turn.

Whatever she expected him to say next, somehow that was not it. Her own eyes widened, a blush flaring from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, lips trembling while she struggled for words.

"I-" didn't think it was reciprocated. Feared rejection. Did not know what to do now that it did not come. Tears welled in her eyes and she raised his captured hand up to kiss it gently. "Words cannot convey how happy that makes me, Cullen. And never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it could be true — that we could be something."