“Because it wasn’t fair,” I reply after a long second.
Tyler watches me like he still doesn’t understand. “You don’t defend people you hate,” he says quietly.
“I don’t hate you,” I admit before I can stop myself.
His breath catches, just slightly, and he closes the distance between us. “I know,” he says. He’s close enough now that I can see the faint shadow beneath his eyes and the weight he carries like armor. “You shouldn’t have had to do that,” he murmurs.
“I wanted to.”
“For me?”
“For what was right.”
His gaze drops to my mouth, and like a fool, my pulse stumbles. “Lila,” he says softly, like a warning, but to himself.
Then, he lowers his head and kisses me.
All the butterflies in my stomach take flight as my heart threatens to beat out of my chest. I gasp softly as he moves h
