Page 108 of Bend

My chest tightens.

“He said that?”

“Not in those exact words.” She glances toward him. “But close enough.”

I look back at Wolfe.

For all the distance he’s been giving me, maybe it hasn’t been because he stopped wanting this.

Maybe he’s just been trying not to make it worse.

Trying not to push.

Which somehow feels worse.

Echo bumps her shoulder against mine. “So stop making him question what he means to you. He deserves to know the truth.”

I let out a slow breath. “Right.”

“Right.”

Neither of us moves.

She raises a brow. “Any time now.”

“Don’t rush me.”

“Rush you? You’ve been avoiding this for weeks.”

“Exactly. I’ve got a system.”

“Well your system is shit.”

“That’s a bit rude.”

“Doesn’t make it any less true.”

I look back toward Wolfe, then down at Echo beside me.

“Right. But what about us?”

Her face softens. “What about us?”

“Don’t do that.” I turn toward her properly. “You know exactly what I mean.”

She waits.

Bloody typical of a Shaw, making me drag every word out myself.

“I still want you,” I admit. “Draygon, Wolfe, this whole fucking mess—it hasn’t changed that.”

Her gaze stays locked on mine.

“When I found out you’d been talking to Wolfe and Draygon too, I thought that’d kill whatever I felt for you. Figured the whole thing would finally pack up and do one.”

“But it didn’t.”

“No.” I let out a quiet laugh. “Feelings are stubborn little bastards, apparently.”