Because

Relief washes over Ariel as Trey accepts the invitation to sit. Probably the thing she feared the most was him trying to walk somewhere and stepping out in front of traffic, getting mugged or worse.

Guiding him back to the step, she makes sure he's safely seated before easing down next to him. A chilly breeze was in the air and she was in short sleeves, but she didn't pay any attention to that right now.

Trey's question broke Ariel's heart even more. He had no idea why someone would care. And she wasn't the only person that did, but he really didn't understand.

Giving him a small smile, she bends her head a little so she could see his eyes. "Because you're worth it," she answers. "Because there's a whole lot more to you than meets the eye. You like to hide it and you do a good job. But I've seen past it. And that's why I care."

Slipping an arm around his shoulders, she hugs him gently. "You've been hurt too much," she murmurs. "But you can't keep running away... I don't want you to run away."