Sandy hadn’t meant it to be taken as a rejection, the silence was heavy in the air until Cal pulled her into a hug. She felt like she could breathe again. Her arms lifted, winding around him and twisting in his shirt, though she did drop one hand a clutch at Frankie’s forearm when Frankie’s arms came around her waist.
She let out a slow breath, eyes firmly closed.
[Sorry], she murmured into their minds. There was a momentary pause before she added, almost shyly, [I love you guys.]
Because if being separate, if not using their words was going to push them apart? She couldn’t have that. She didn’t want to be alone again, she couldn’t be alone again. None of them could take that.
So she’d suck it up. Use her words. Worry later about it backfiring on her.