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What if Ace and Connor didn’t even really want to bite me, anyway?

We’ve known each other for less than a month.

I begged both Ace and Connor to do it—and I’m even more embarrassed about my behavior with Connor.

Once he entered my bedroom, I spread my legs, arched my back, and demanded he bite me.

Shame and guilt churn in my stomach.

What have I done?

Tammy squeezes my shoulder. “There is nothing to be scared of,” she says quietly. “I promise. But there is one thing I think you should have now.” She lifts up a bag, one that gives off a clean, fresh scent.

It’s from Ben.

I look at Tammy, and she shuts the closet door and leads me to the couch.

The bag is stunning, with gold trim and a beautiful lilac hue.

Sitting on top of the tissue paper is a note written in Ben’s handwriting.

I love you. Whenever you’re ready to come home, I’m here. But in the meantime, let him keep you company.

Tearing away the tissue paper, I reach inside and pull out a familiar plush cat with green eyes and a regal white moustache.

Wilson from the Aurora Inn.

In my frantic packing, I forgot to bring him with me. I left him in our bed, and the first night I fell asleep at Tammy’s, I cried when I realized he wasn’t with me.

I clutch the cat tightly to my chest, and fresh tears fill my eyes.

“I don’t say this lightly,” Tammy says. “But Ben is the most patient man I’ve ever met in my life, Devyn. It’s rare to have someone that loves you like that. He’s one of a kind.”

I nod and bury my face in Wilson’s soft fabric.

“It’s unbelievable that he’s related to River,” Tammy adds, and I half laugh, half sob.

“I’ve pointed that out more than once.”

I continue to clutch Wilson, breathing deeply, until Tammy pulls me into a hug.

“I’m proud of you,” she says.

I scrunch my face. “What? Why? I screwed up everything.”

But she clutches me tighter and rocks me in her arms. “What you did isn’t screwing up. It’s human.”

I close my eyes and lean into her embrace, inhaling her soft floral scent. “I wish you were my mom,” I say softly.

Tammy simply hums and presses a kiss to the top of my head.

* * *

Skylar nearly tacklesme in a hug when she and April come over in the evening.

“You beautiful little idiot,” she chastises me, squeezing me so hard I can’t breathe. “We’re going to talk.”

“Later,” April says. “We just got here, Skye. Don’t push her into anything.”