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“What’s wrong, kitten?”

“This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me. For my family. Thank you.”

Dez runs a hand over my hair. “It was worth it to see you smile like this, little muse”

Their kisses are drugging and my body’s loose by the time the others come back. Until I look around and see we’re missing a pajama set.

“Where are yours?” I ask Connor, stomach plummeting becauseI know.He doesn’t need to say a word.

“In my room.”

“Are you changing, too?”

He grimaces, motioning toward the back of the house. “I’m going to?—”

Leave. That’s what he was going to say. To work in his room or the office or hell, drive to their shop if this is too much. All to get away from me.

Stupid fucking hope. Stupid fucking feelings. Stupid fucking tears.

I’m flying on delicate butterfly wings and who knows how much more it’ll take to snap them. Connor goes from making me feel like the only person in the world to someone he barely knows, and while I’m positive he’s not doing it to hurt me, it doesn’t change the outcome.

I’m hurt. So motherfucking hurt.

His brows furrow, even as he steps back. “I’m not leaving the house. I was just going to work a little while you enjoy the rest of the night with your friends.”

I knew it was coming and yet it still stings. How many times have Nate, Dez, and I sat on this couch after dinner and watched that fucking door shut behind him? How many times have we gone to my place, curling into my nest as if there isn’t an empty spot where Connor should be?

How much longer can I take it if the most I see of him is his back as he walks away?

“Please don’t go.” I inch closer so it’s just us. “I know work is crazy and you’re busy, but you’re never here and I need you to be. I need you, Connor.”

“I get that, but I have a little left to?—”

“Look at her, Con,” Dez snaps. “Listen to what she’s saying. What we’ve all been saying.”

The guys look at each other, with Nate backing Dez up, and it hurts to know that even with his brothers telling Connor to show up, nothing’s changed.

Why am I never enough of a reason? For my parents to love me. For my pack to respect me. For Connor to be here with me. Is there something in me that makes it easy to walk away?

“Oh, angel.” His face creases with worry as he drags me into his chest until I’m surrounded by the juxtaposition of his chilled scent and warm skin. This is the Connor I’ve seen peeking through before. The one that cares so deeply about me, even when he’s not here. The one I want to know.

My voice wobbles and shakes. “Please.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Daph. I’m right here.”

For how long?

We end up in the downstairs bathroom together because I can’t let him out of my sight. It’s like I’m worried that if he gets a moment to reconsider, he’ll disappear again, completely out of reach.

When he’s cozy and cute, Connor plops me on the counter and runs a clean washcloth under the water. Then he grabs a bag from below the sink and pulls out my face wash. At first, I think it’s a fluke, but then I see the other bottles. All duplicates of my skincare.

“Where did this come from?”

He doesn’t look up from where he rubs the cleanser into the washcloth. “Bought it after your heat. Didn’t want you to have to leave just to be comfortable.”

“Did the others do it?”

He tips my face up and I get a firsthand look at the pain in his expression as he slowly starts removing my makeup. “No, I did.”