[ He blinks, realizing she’d taken that the wrong way, which has him straightening up once more and letting his hands drop to catch her wrists in a warm grip as she shoves at him. ]

Sweetheart. I think we’re talking about two entirely separate things here. [ A finger slides under her chin, tipping her face towards him once more. ] Talk to me. What are you so afraid of? Trying to keep it buried or ignoring it isn’t going to do you any good. It’ll just fester under the surface. At least let me help you work through it with you?