[ He’s still not convinced that her first answer hadn’t been the more truthful of the two. This one, he reluctantly suspects, is more likely brought on by too much alcohol and guilt and the complicated feelings for Claude she’s still trying to avoid. But that’s not an answer she wants to face yet either.

So he lets one hand slide down to cup over her own, resting against his chest, while the other comes up to cup against her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against the flushed skin there. ]

Sweetheart. I believe that’s what you want right now. But you’ve also had a lot of alcohol and a hurt heart, and neither of those things are something I’m going to take advantage of tonight. [ Or ever. She deserved better than that. Than something like him.

He lets his other hand drop until he can cup her face between his warm palms, cradling her gently. ] Let’s put a pin in it tonight, okay? We can talk about this again when you’ve had some good sleep and you’re sober again.

[ Or maybe he’ll luck out and she’ll forget this entire conversation. He can hope. ]

In the meantime, let me finish rinsing your hair so you can get into your comfortable pajamas. We can even go out and snuggle on the terrace a while if you want or I can tuck you into your bed if you’d rather. Whatever will make you happy, sweetheart. Let’s save the serious talks for another day, when there’s not so much alcohol involved. That never helps make good decisions, no matter how it feels in the moment.