Malachi knew it had been far too much to ask for her to just drop it.

Without looking up from the handkerchief, he swallowed a lump in his throat. Why, of all days, had she chosen today to visit him?

Because she was worried.

Guilt clawed at him, dragging cold talons from the pit of his stomach.

“I did,” he answered after a long silence. “I woke up this way.”

And then everything after had made it worse.

“Don’t make this a big thing, please,” he asked of her, his voice pleading and quiet.