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—I’m here if you want to talk about what happened tonight. Whatever it was, if I triggered it, I’m sorry. —

Arnav.

And a second text.

—Foster is sorry too. He doesn’t normally share certain parts of himself. I was surprised. —

Finally.

—Sleep well. —

Right, like that was going to happen.

Chapter Eight

Demetrius

“I’m sorry you’re having a rough go.” I pressed my hand to Keegan’s shoulder.

When he was younger, this soothed him.

I waited for him to shrug me off. To claim he didn’t need to be babied anymore. He never did, though. He continued to need support from me. And, of course, he’d always have it.

Cody nodded his approval. “Maybe you want to tell your dad what happened?”

Keegan drew in a deep breath and finally met my gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I was baffled.

“You shouldn’t have had to come.” He glanced at Cody. Well, more like glared.

Cody held his gaze. “Your dad specifically asked that we call him if you had a panic attack. He respects your desire to handle them on your own, but he also needs the assurance that seeing you in person will bring to him. He loves you so much, Keegan.”

“Yeah.”I again squeezed his shoulder.

This time, he did shrug me off.

I didn’t feel hurt.

Or so I told myself.

“You were the one who said I had to learn how to deal with them.” He met my gaze.

“Not on your own.” I tried to smile. “Keegan, you’re thirteen. I know you want to be all grown-up—but you’re not. And you’ve been through so much—”

“Don’t bring Mom into this.”

Ouch.Sometimes he still blamed her for getting sick and leaving himalone. I never pointed out he had Alaina and me.

“I wasn’t going to.” I gazed into those crystalline-blue eyes. So like his mom’s. “I meant the stuff you’ve gone through at school. No kid should have to endure what you have. I think…while you’re talking to Cody…that you should maybe consider going to a new school.”

“That’s just running away from my problems.” Something else he was obsessed with—not being perceived as weak.

“No, it’s not. Hell, it’s not even a strategic retreat. It’s calleda fresh start. You’re allowed to have one of those. To start anew and try again.”

“The kids will all be the same.”

“Hopefully that’s not true.” Cody straightened in his chair. “There are so many kids who are accepting. Who understand. Not so much in your dad’s day—”