When they separated, Justin cleared his throat. “For the record, you’re right. I’d love to jump into this, but I don’t think I’m in that sort of headspace yet. I need to be able to feel like I’d be okay alone with the kids if something happened to us, before I can—” He stopped speaking and cursed under his breath.
“What?”
“I was about to say something that a therapist would have a field day with.”
“And what was that?” Del took hold of Justin’s hand and squeezed his good fingers.
“I need to know me and the kids would be okay without you, before I legally bind you to me. So that if I mess something up and you don’t want to be with me anymore, I know I can support them. I can’t…I can’t be a hundred percent in before I know I’d be okay without you.” The heartbreak in Justin’s eyes made Del’s chest feel tight.