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“It’s not you, angel. It’s all the shit in the past.”

I knew, and I understood. “You don’t have to explain. I was there, remember?”

He clenched my fingers tighter. “You were always able to do this.” He sounded calmer.

“Do what?”

“Chill me the fuck out when I’m riled up.”

True. “You have a short fuse,” I joked.

“And you’re too sweet.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Tell me whoever adopted you treated you well, Katrina.”

“They did.” For the most part. “Clifford and Sabrina are good people.”

His shoulders lost some of their tension. “I’m glad.”

“I hate that we never got a chance to say goodbye.” I glanced at my lap, avoiding his direct gaze. “It felt so jarring. I hated it.” That was an understatement. It devastated me to lose Rain and his protection, friendship, and the blossoming love we felt for one another. Was it taboo? Maybe. But we learned to lean on one another at a young age. It made sense we formed a strong bond.

“It fucking gutted me,” he growled.

I lifted my chin, staring into his tortuous expression. “Me too.”

We sat in silence for a minute, mulling over the past.

“You went to college.”

“I did. Library science major. It’s a good fit for me.”

“My bookworm.” He bumped his shoulder against mine. “Remember readingThe Princess Bride?”

“Which time?” I asked with a laugh. “But we probably watched the movie more.”

“We did.”

I rested my head on his shoulder. “This is nice.”

“That’s because we’re not discussing any of the hard shit.”

“I know.”

“But either way, I’m with you. That makes me happy.”

I felt the same. “Me too, Rain.”

It was so hard to call him Cuckoo sometimes. It was an adjustment that would take time.

“You can call me Rain when we’re alone. Just you. No one else.”

He didn’t want that connection to his past. It made sense. I hated those awful memories of how we suffered as kids. Even now, I shoved it all behind a locked door in my mind, refusing to open it up and expose myself to the pain.

“I’m honored you trust me with it.”

“I trust you with my life.”

He said it with such conviction that I knew it wasn’t a lie.

“You need to know the gravity of those words, Katrina. I’m the type of man who trusts only his club. No one else. To extend my circle to include you is a big fucking deal.”