[ He gives a soft, disbelieving laugh at that, his hand tightening slightly in his grip around her much smaller hand. His eyes slide shut again as he feels a pang of regret. Especially at her words, because it’s clear she understands why he’s holding back here.

He wishes he could be as optimistic as she was. It’s been a long time since he’d thought anything like that. He feels far too cynical for that now. ]

Sweetheart, I think you’re underestimating my singular talent of spectacularly fucking up just about anything I get my hands on. That reputation I had wasn’t just gossip when we were growing up. I’m no good at this. Pretty sure I bring bad luck to any relationship I even consider taking beyond casual. Not that there’ve been a lot of those, either.