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Bryce is the right decision. Always.

“I can talk to her, but I can’t promise anything,” I offer.

She beams. “Thank you! I’ll message her later this week. Thank you for this piece, Shade.”

“No problem,” he mutters.

I swallow a laugh at his reaction to this. What an overgrown puppy in need of praise.

“I’ll see you later, then,” she adds, making her way to the door.

Without offering my name, I wave and watch her leave. Shade is quick to lock the door behind her and gesture for me to head through the studio.

“So, Bryce isn’t taking any female clients?” he asks, smirking.

He’s dressed similarly to the first time I met him, but instead of a black hoodie, he’s in a simple black long-sleeve. It’s easier to tell how muscular he is without the extra bulk of the sweatshirt, but despite his size, he doesn’t intimidate me at all, even when I’m alone.

“I didn’t know she’d done that,” I answer. We sit on the couch, and I pull my legs up and under me. “I’m sorry to show up without asking first. I should have expected you to have a client.”

“You’re Bryce’s girl, little devil. That makes you family. You’re welcome here anytime.”

I press a hand over my heart in response to the sentiment and lean my cheek against the couch. “I actually wanted to talk to you about something.”

“I figured you didn’t show up here alone just to visit,” he teases.

“Ha-ha. It’s kind of serious.”

He sobers up, nodding for me to continue.

I’m not ashamed of how my relationship with Bryce started, and Shade doesn’t show a single sign of judgment as I explain it to him. By the time I’m finished, I’m almost positive Bryce has told him far more than I had expected her to.

“I knew it had gotten bad with her mom, but not that bad,” he grits out.

“I think she hid a lot of it from everyone.”

“Sounds like her.”

“You live in a small town, so you know what it’s like when the gossip mill starts running. I think she’s got it in her head that I’m going to get spooked by what everyone’s saying or will think and take off on her.”

Even saying it out loud sounds wrong. Worse than repeating it in my mind.

“Again, that sounds like Bryce.” Shade pushes his hair back, sighing. “Listen, when she told me about the two of you, I didn’t question it for a fucking second. Even if I hadn’t caught you two making out outside the studio or seen the way you watched each other and couldn’t stand not touching for a single goddamn minute, I wouldn’t have doubted it.”

“Why not? You didn’t know me.”

“Didn’t I? I’d heard all about you for the last three years.”

“What do you mean?” I splutter, staring at him like he’s just grown a second head.

He touches his teeth together and pulls his lips back in an oops expression. “You didn’t know?”

“No, I didn’t know. Now, explain. Please.”

“Bryce . . . Well, she’s been into you for a while, little devil. Not in the stalking you while you’re walking home kind of way, but she’s had an interest in you for like three years now. It’s why I didn’t second-guess you being together. I was used to hearing about all the cute things Daisy Mitchell had done or who you had gifted your smile to at those little barbecues your family throws. Bryce was enamoured by you.”

I bring my fingers to my throat, prodding at it to see if I canfeel the bulge of emotion that’s currently restricting my ability to swallow properly.

“I never picked up on that. Bryce never acted like she was interested in me. She was always so rude. Even when Johnny asked if she’d let me move in for a little while, she looked like she wanted to tell me to get lost.”