"Ash," Zayn calls softly, his forehead resting gently against mine. "I'm not going anywhere. And neither are the nightmares if you don't face them. This internship is good for you. I know how much you love Biology."
"I'd be gone for three months, Zayn," I whisper, my chest aching. "You and I… we're like shadows. We can't…" I sigh. "We've never been apart that long before. Ever." I stare into his dark eyes. "You'd be okay with me gone that long?"
His jaw ticks, but his voice stays steady. "I'd hate every second. But I'm not the one who gets to hold you back. And you shouldn't hold yourself back either. You're always preaching the same thing to me about football. So don't smother your own dreams for my sake."
I remain quiet.
He lifts my hand to his lips and presses a slow kiss to my knu
