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“The truth.” Returning my gaze to Alexis, who’s snapping her rubber band on her wrist, I murmur, “I’m desperately in love with his little sister and I’ll cherish her until the end of time.”

The snapping stops, and she gives me a watery smile. “Won’t this mess up your friendship? I’m sure there’s some bro code about this, right?”

“There is.” She doesn’t remember I’ve told her about my vow to Liam before. “But it doesn’t matter, because you’re the most important person in my life, you hear me? You’re unforgettable and one of a kind. He’ll just have to live with it.”

Her eyes mist and I pull her into my arms before kissing her forehead, my lungs drawing in the calming scent of lavender.

Liam twirls a butter knife in his hand.

One rotation. Two rotations. Three rotations.

A tap on the table. Readjusting the grip. The twirling begins again.

Unease slithers its way up my body, but I maintain a straight face as I stare at my best friend.

Or maybe former best friend at this rate.

A lock of dirty blond hair covers his right eye, his legs sprawled, one arm draping behind his chair. The calm posture is deceptive. I might be overthinking this, but I think he’s purposely dressed in a black short-sleeve T-shirt to show off his sleeves of menacing tattoos.

He holds my gaze, his fingers fiddling with the knife.

Rotations. Tap. Readjustment. Rotations.

If you were to ask me this morning if I thought a butter knife was capable of bodily harm, I would’ve scoffed and thought you were insane.

Now, I’m not so sure.

I tug my cuff link, unwilling to be the first to flinch or blink.

“So… You and Firefly,” he rasps.

I nod. “We’re together.”

No use beating around the bush. I was supposed to have this conversation ten years ago.

“I distinctly remember someone vowed to me he wouldn’t touch my sister.” His lips twitch into a half snarl. “That our friendship wastoo important.”

“We were kids then. You thought I was breaking hearts and had commitment issues. Things are different now. You should know that. I haven’t dated anyone in forever.”

“Hence the commitment issues. My concern still stands. She’s been through enough. She doesn’t need more shit from a non-communicative, brooding asshole.”

“I was waiting for Lexy, damn it! If waiting for a decade and living like a monk aren’t signs of commitment, then I don’t know what is.”

He jams the butter knife into the table, and I flinch.

Scratch my previous thought. Butter knives are definitely capable of inflicting permanent damage.

“So you’re admitting this startedbeforeher accident then? After I specifically asked you multiple times and you swore to me and gave me your fucking word, you motherfucker.”

My skin heats as guilt swirls in my gut. “I don’t regret anything with Lexy, but I do regret keeping it from you for so long. When she got into her accident, I didn’t see the point in telling you then.”

“How long?”

“What?”

“How long were you involved with her back then?”

I swallow, my heart thundering in my chest. This one’s going to hurt. He’s definitely going to kill me. “Two years.”