"Hey, don't worry about it. Seriously, dude, it what it is. You're a good cousin and I am terminally into guys who are kind to their friends and the waitstaff, so I shoulda seen this one coming, you know?"

She restrains herself from taking another step back, fighting the panicky vise in her chest that squawks unkindness after unkindness. Her lifetime of rejection does not mean she gets to make it his problem! Rein it the fuck in, Grace. It's just kissing.

So what if him being so fucking good to his family makes her want him more because she's just emotionally damaged in that specific way?

"I am gonna dip though, 'cause I totally get it and I think it's super cool of you to have his back like this, for real, but uh, you know, a girl's dignity can only take so many hits." She drums up another smile, stronger but toothier.

"Promise it won't be awkward later, really. Just gotta... walk it off before the next half."