Page 100 of Hymns of the Broken

The bedroom is spacious—with vaulted ceilings, an enormous window overlooking the back of the property, and a queen bed made up in crisp black linens. Jasper must’ve had it ready before she got here.

Macee looks around, then throws her bag on the bed. “Damn. I was expecting a dusty guest closet with a raccoon in it. You really upgraded, didn’t you, art goblin?”

“Don’t call me that,” I groan, but the smile is already threatening at my lips.

“You love it,” she fires back, flopping down next to me, wild hair a messy halo on the pillow.

I roll my eyes and flop onto the bed. My heart finally slows. “I hate how smug you are.”

“Please. You’re glowing.” She drops next to me, lying on her side to face me, her hand propped under her chin. “Now spill. Who’s the broody one, who’s the golden retriever, and which one had you gasping like a Victorian widow under the table?”

“Macee!” My cheeks flame hotter, but I can’t help the grin.

“What?” She grins, eyes full of wicked delight. “I saw the look onhisface. Riot, right? That man was two seconds away from setting the room on fire. He’s got it bad.”

I stare at the ceiling, letting out a shaky breath. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Liar. You know exactly what you’re doing. You’re finally letting someone—or someones—want you.” Her voice is gentle, but there’s an edge of pride there that makes something soft ache in my chest.

I bite my lip, picking at the threads of the comforter.

She nudges me, with a devilish smirk in her voice. “So. Tell me. What’s it like being the main character in a goth polyamorous fever dream?”

I cover my face with a groan. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t,” she sings. “You love me. Because I’m the only one who’ll call you out while helping you pick which fishnet lingerie goes with your jealousy crisis.”

I laugh so hard I nearly choke, tears pricking my eyes for a whole different reason. For a minute, I let myselffeelit—friendship, safety, a kind of joy I haven’t had in years.

Then I exhale, voice a whisper. “Thanks for coming.”

Her voicesoftens, losing all the teasing. “I wouldn’t miss it, goblin. And I’m not going anywhere.”

I sit up suddenly, too full of emotion to lie still. My fingers twist the hem of my shirt as I look over ather, needingherto see how real this feels.

“Mace?”

“Yeah?” she says, still grinning, but her eyes are gentle.

“Is it… really okay?”

Her brow creases, all snark gone. “Is what okay?”

“This. All of it. The guys… both of them. The feelings. The fact that I’m falling for someone who feels like a loaded gun and another who feels like gravity—and I don’t know how to hold both at the same time without dropping myself in the middle of it.”

She sits up too, crossing her legs and facing me fully. Her hands find mine, anchoring me, thumb tracing soothing circles over my knuckles.

“Sawyer…”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been wanted like this before. And it scares the hell out of me. I keep waiting for the punchline. Maybe it’s just a game to them… Or maybe I’m just some prize they’re fighting over.”

Macee squeezes my hand, voice steady. “It’s not a game, babe. I saw the way they looked at you. That wasn’t some dumb competition. That was two men on fire.”

I blink, throat tight, that truthsettling heavily in my chest.

She keeps going, softer now. “You’ve spent your whole life believing you’re the afterthought. But you’re not. You never were. You’re the main fucking character, Sawyer. And if they both see it? Then let them.”

My eyes sting.