Part of Stark wanted to yank his hand away from that touch and he started to and then stopped himself and took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Why wouldn't I be fine with you visiting your friends?" Sure, that one friend kind of hated him but Summer didn't hate him. "You always came back. That's all I ever wanted."

Some parts of this were easier to say than others.

"I love you. I've loved you for a long time and I loved you before I knew I loved you and well before you said you loved me and..."

He swallowed hard and tried to squeeze her hand, gently, hesitantly because all of a sudden he didn't know where he stood anymore.

"I know a year is a lot. That's why...why I wanted it to be special. I've never done this and..."

Now he would still have never done this. Maybe he never would.