Again, he hears Giliam's voice: He thinks the world of you.

For a wild instant, he wants to tell her everything. To throw the truth at her feet, push back against her affection, and run. But a new memory sticks to his mind now: the look of almost-approval on Tars' face as Curtis said, that's how it's gonna be.

He fights. He goes forward. He doesn't know how to do anything else.

Curtis leans in, pressing another kiss to her forehead, and murmurs, "Yeah, I guess so."