"It's okay, Gigi," Sage said once David was gone and the possibility of accidentally harming him had gone with him.
He couldn't turn around to see her, because she was still clinging to his shirt. It shredded his heart to feel her like this. She was trembling as her strength tried to give way, but she was stubborn and prideful and not willing to crumple to the ground behind him. She was going to remain standing until the very last moment.
"Gia," he tried again, slowly taking one arm and then the other out of his shirt so he could twist around with it still around his neck and catch her before she collapsed.
She whimpered, realizing what he was doing. She didn't want to be helped by him like this—not when she felt as helpless as a pup. Not when she couldn't even stand on her own.
"It's okay," he said calmly, pausing with his hands gripping the neck of the shirt.
"No," she whimpered again, leaning her forehead against his back. "It's not."
