[The loosened grip worries her for the wrong reason, at first. She thinks she might have said something wrong, made Cass thinks she blames her for leaving, or didn't sound genuine enough, or any number of things. But Cass doesn't leave, like she would if she was mad at Steph.
But she does choke on her words.
Steph stops floating, shifting her weight until her legs drop down into the water and she can stand on the bottom of the pool, grateful it's shallow enough that she can. She doesn't let go of Cass, but she wants to be looking at her, not floating beside her.]
Do you want to tell me you're thinking? Or do you want me to just be here?
[It's careful phrasing, trying to let Cass know that if she wants to try explaining what's going on, Steph will be patient until she can, but she doesn't want her to feel pressured to find words, if she doesn't want to.
no subject
But she does choke on her words.
Steph stops floating, shifting her weight until her legs drop down into the water and she can stand on the bottom of the pool, grateful it's shallow enough that she can. She doesn't let go of Cass, but she wants to be looking at her, not floating beside her.]
Do you want to tell me you're thinking? Or do you want me to just be here?
[It's careful phrasing, trying to let Cass know that if she wants to try explaining what's going on, Steph will be patient until she can, but she doesn't want her to feel pressured to find words, if she doesn't want to.
They can just be here.]