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L ex should’ve felt triumphant.

Morgan and Kate were never a thing. She was never a threat. That wholesome, sweet, fantasy he could never compete with? Officially dead. He should’ve felt smug, cocky, victorious.

But did he?

That was the question. One he still didn’t know the answer to.

Everything felt… messy. Unfinished. That pissed him off.

Because Morgan wasn’t acting like they’d won anything. Wasn’t acting like any of this was a big deal for the two of them . Wasn’t even looking at him. Just… packing.

Like he hadn’t casually fucking admitted he was on retainer with a crime family. Faking a relationship because some mafia-mommy asked nicely.

Killing people was one thing, but this brought it to a whole new level.

Where was the excitement ?

Where was the goddamn joy?

Why wasn’t Morgan grabbing him and saying, “It’s just you and me against the world now, baby.”

But like—

Less cringe. More Morgan.

Lex watched, still standing by the closet. Arms crossed. Some blazer he couldn’t manage to shove in his bag hanging from his shoulder.

Morgan packed like a machine—methodical, precise. Each item folded like he gave a damn about wrinkles. Socks tucked into shoes. Notebooks stacked in the order he used them, all black, all identical except for the wear on their spines.

Lex had tried to sneak into them a couple weeks ago. Got his hand slapped. Literally.

He still had the picture of the bruise.

The suitcase’s zipper shut and Morgan stepped away. He brushed a strand of hair from his face.

Lex couldn’t deal with it anymore.

“How long were you going to keep it going?” he asked.

Morgan didn’t answer. Just slid a passport into the front pocket.

Don’t give me the cold shoulder now.

“Was it supposed to be forever?” It all came out too loud, too fast. He stopped, took a second to reel it back in. “You and her. And me just… what? Sleeping in your old room like your—your side chick or some shit? The one not good enough to take home? What if I’d never kicked Kate out? Then what?”

“ Lex .”

One syllable. More warning than word .

Morgan adjusted the jacket on the hanger. Lex stared at his profile; the slope of his neck, the exact angle of his jaw. The two moles under his eye.

Something to hold onto in case all this went bad.

Lex almost said it—almost begged Morgan to tell him he cared. But the words burned like hell coming up, seared his throat closed.

“Can you answer me?” he asked instead.

“I’m waiting,” Morgan said dryly.

Lex wanted to scream.

He didn’t. He couldn’t. Because if he screamed, Morgan would leave .

And then it would get bad.

Instead, he drifted closer, letting his shoulder brush Morgan’s arm.

Morgan didn’t lean in. But he didn’t pull away.

Victory.

“I never…” Lex trailed off. He didn’t know how to word that yet. Didn’t know what he was trying to say, really.

Lex licked his lips.

“I never would’ve known.”

Morgan’s hands stilled over the open drawer. He didn’t turn.

“You know how fucked up that is? I don’t—I don’t get why you didn’t tell me. Like—am I… do you not trust me? Is that it? Or is it because I’d lose my shit and that’s not worth the trouble. I’m damn good at keeping secrets, Morgan.”

He wasn’t crying.

Tight eyes didn’t count.

He was still fine. Still dry-eyed .

Morgan shut the drawer. His face didn’t change. But his fingers stayed curled around the handle like he wasn’t ready to let go.

“I’m not mad ,” Lex said, more to himself. “I’m just—”

He didn’t finish the sentence.

What was he? Ashamed?

Scared?

Absolutely losing it because it felt like someone pulled the rug out from under him?

It was too fucking quiet.

Complete silence.

Morgan was still, and if Lex started crying?

Not happening. No .

Instead, he forced a laugh. “No emotional check-in?”

“You already told me,” Morgan said. “You feel like you’ve been left out. Like you’re second. That’s not the case.”

The accuracy stung like hell.

And then Morgan sighed, but it came with a shift in his posture. A loosening. His eyes stayed fixed on the middle distance, but his voice was—maybe not softer , but at least quieter.

“I didn’t tell you,” he said, “because it was easier for me .”

Cold slipped down Lex’s back.

Morgan didn’t stop. “You didn’t seem any worse for wear. You were still you. We were still us . Why would I disrupt that? Why would I cause problems when there’s no need to? What does that accomplish, Lex.”

God, just look happy. I don’t even care if it’s fake. Act like a human for once, Morgan .

Lex slid his hand along the curve of Morgan’s back. His palm found the center of it, right between his shoulder blades.

Morgan didn’t budge.

Good enough.

Lex pressed his forehead to Morgan’s spine, chest cinched too tight to breathe right. Wrapped his arms around Morgan’s waist—desperate for an answer he couldn’t say.

Please. Please tell me I’ve always mattered more.

He waited for the rejection. Counting the seconds in silence.

One.

Two.

No movement. Not even a breath. He was about to pull away when—

Morgan turned. Grabbed him.

Held on—tight.

Too tight.

Not a hug.

Not even fucking close.

Morgan’s arms pinned his at his sides. Chest pressed full against Lex’s, all weight and heat and force.

Lex couldn’t move. Could barely breathe.

He could feel it though. Morgan’s heartbeat, slow and steady—thudding right into his own.

“If I didn’t want you,” Morgan said, cheek biting into the side of Lex’s head, “you wouldn’t be here.”

Lex’s throat tightened.

“ W e wouldn’t be here.”

There wasn’t stroking or soothing. Just Morgan holding him in place like he belonged .

Like he wasn’t too much.

Like Morgan could take all of him—bitching and jealousy and everything in between—and want more.

“It’s still—it’s still fucked up,” he whispered. “You do know that, right?”

Morgan didn’t argue.

Didn’t tell him he was wrong.

Maybe that was the closest Lex would get to admittance.

Lex buried his face against Morgan’s collarbone, breathing him in, letting the heat and weight of him settle the gnawing thing inside.

His hands fisted into Morgan’s shirt.

“Breathe, Lex,” Morgan murmured after a while. “It’s only the two of us now.”

And that?

That was all Lex needed to hear.