Redhawk Caldera greyscale

Bridget was caught completely off guard by the admission. She recovered but it was uncharacteristically hard for her to find a natural follow. The initial response was easy, but what came after was far from it. She'd been so sure she missed her chance, that she was too late. If she was being honest with herself, though - even Teya's words, impossible to mistake as they were, did little to convince her otherwise.

I love you too. Easy. But I think... there's some things that I can't share. Regret welled up in her throat but she tried to swallow it back, shoving it beneath the real need to be honest. She couldn't let this become complicated. Bridget cared too much about preserving what they had to allow either of them to lead this on under false pretenses.

When we came back, I could tell that it wasn't me you hoped to see. I understand, things are different now, and I'd never be upset about that. It's hard, but I'm a big girl. Bridget smiled, but it was a bit more withheld than usual. She couldn't muster it in full.

You'll always have me, no matter what. But I can't be a second choice, and I don't think Reyes can either.

She wished a lot of things that couldn't be. It was a line that was as necessary for her as it was painful to lay forth and she ached, waiting for the confirmation. Knowing what Teya would choose, leading her that way on purpose, and yet horribly aware of how the words would crush her anyway.