"I appreciate it," she answers, her tone dry even though she's smiling. "It'd be a bit of a difficult relationship if you were constantly holding that over me."

Her smile softens a bit and she lifts her hand, fingertips brushing away the errant tear. Then she leans in, kisses the damp trail on his face, tastes the salt on his skin.

"I love you," she says again, almost cautiously, as if she's afraid he'll take it back now, even after only a few minutes.