Page 141 of Raw Notes, Rough Nights

I frowned, my breaths shallow. “What does that mean?”

“You don’t even realise how much power you have over him,” he said, low and furious. “You’re older. He’s living under your roof.”

“I didn’t pressure him,” I shot back. “I never?—”

“You didn’t have to.” Gary cut me off, his eyes blazing. “Cameron has been orbiting you since he was a teenager.”

The air left my lungs.

“You’re his safe place,” Gary went on. “His north star. And you think that doesn’tmatter?”

My chest tightened until it hurt.

“You’re the experienced one,” he snarled again. “You’re his hero.” His voice rose, breaking. “And you let him fall for you?” Disgust flickered across his face. “I expected this shit from Luka. Not from you.”

That name.

Thatname.

I flinched. Gary saw it and pressed harder.

“What happens when you get scared?” he demanded. “When you shut down like you always do?”

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

“What do you think that will do to him?” Gary’s voice cracked. “You break people when you pull away. You always have.”

The silence after that was unbearable.

“I trusted you,” he said quietly.

That hurt more than anything else he’d said.

He straightened, his jaw locked, eyes cold and resolved. “I came here to protect my brother.” He stabbed a finger at my chest. “Stay away from him. If you care about him at all.”

Then he was gone.

The door slammed. His footsteps thundered down the stairs.

I stood there, shaking.

The door closed behind him. I couldn’t move. I could still hear him in my head.

You don’t even realise how much power you have over him.

You’re older. You’re his safe place. His north star.

What happens when you get scared? When you shut down like you always do?

What do you think that will do to him?

Gary hadn’t said it outright, but the message was clear.

You ruin things just by being you.

He left convinced he’d saved his brother.