"You don't really get it, do you?" Sharper than the fire roaring between us, Rogan's words pierced the silence.
I was shocked by the intensity of his attention and looked up from my hands. The storm in his gray eyes grew stronger as the flickering light cast shadows on his face.
"Do you understand?" My voice was steady but gentle as I asked.
As though the weight of his remarks required physical support, Rogan leaned forward in his chair and rested his elbows on his knees. "The reason I push you away." Why am I unable to let you in?
The ensuing quiet seemed to go on forever. Fear and hope swirled in my chest as my heartbeat accelerated.
"Then tell me," I said in a whisper. "Explain why."
He remained motionless for a moment. His anxious features reflected the light as he gazed at the f
