"I'll ... I'll be your default weak spot. When all the manipulations and whatever else don't work, it comes down to that human man you love to be the thing to get to you." He held onto her hand. He didn't want to let go. Irrationally, he thought if he let go, she'd pull away and this couldn't be settled.

"I don't want to cause you pain, Stephanie. I want to be the one thing in your life that has never hurt you. But I can't compete with what comes after you. Or even with what can help you after things go horribly wrong."