"You deserve respect," he says heatedly, because none of his affections should rule out the fact that people should treat her with respect. "The feelings, they helped, but you deserve everything."

He tangles his fingers through her hair and adjusts in the bed, trying to tug the blanket over his feet. "I treated you with extra respect because I love you." And then, the words are out of his mouth and he can't take them back.