I very nearly had something to say, very nearly meeting her surprise gesture with words, but not of gratitude. Having these tickets in my hand, feeling the residual warmth from when she still held them in hers… the last thing I could be feeling now was gratitude.
It took a moment to find the words, and just when I thought I finally did find them… Amanda found hers first.
"Okay, listen, look…" Amanda spun her entire body towards me, pushing a finger to my mouth with wide unblinking eyes pleading for me to hear her out. "Do not dare give them back to me, do not dare say you don't want them. I know you're feeling bad, I know you'll probably feel like the worst boyfriend in the universe taking them from me. But please believe me, like really, really believe me, when I tell you I want you to have them."
There was a pause, and I pounced for it, wriggling my lips free from her binds, "Amanda, I can't just take them and - "
Sorry for publishing late - had to rewrite this chapter a couple of times trying to make it sound right!
Hope I manage to make it good at the very least, fingers crossed here!