Page 30 of Knot Their Starlet

I should probably tell him to leave them here before he goes.

“I’m going to rehab,” Ezra says, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “But I couldn’t go before coming here to apologize to you. I—I’m so sorry, Andi, you have no idea.”

My hand trembles as I lift it to touch the ugly blue and green bruises I know are peeking out past the collar of my hoodie.

Ezra’s apology seems sincere, but the words themselves ring hollow. They can’t get past the anger that’s starting to bubble its way up my throat.

“I get it if you don’t want to talk to me right now. I really do, but I hope—I hope that when I get out, when I’m better, that we’ll be able to talk then? See if we can figure things out between us?”

How dare he. How fucking dare he.

Does he expect me to just wait around for him to fix himself enough that he doesn’t slam my head into a marble countertop when he’s pissed about something not going his way?

“You’re joking,” I rasp, taking a few hurried steps back into my kitchen as he comes closer to me. I eye the knife block in my kitchen. Which is stupid. There’s no way I’d be able to defend myself against an alpha with just a kitchen knife.

“No,” he says, shaking his head vehemently, freezing in place at the entrance to the kitchen when he sees my expression. “I know I fucked up, but we’ve been through so much⁠—”

My phone chimes in my hand.

Unknown number

Hey Andi, it’s Beck

My heart leaps up into my throat. You’d think with Ezra standing right in front of me, in my home, that I’d be more concerned about that. But the moment I see Beck’s name floating on my screen, the only thing I can focus on is the memory of his sparkling, diamond eyes.

Unknown number

I got your number from Leo

Who got it from your team

Fuck, maybe I should’ve planned this better instead of spamming you with messages

I just wanted to be the one to tell you my answer to your question at the hospital. I’m in. My team’s working on making things happen with yours. You don’t have to worry about anything. You’re not alone anymore.

You’re not alone anymore.

Wow.

I’m glad he’s telling me this via text, because I don’t know what I’d say if we were standing face to face.

“Who the hell is that?” Ezra grumbles. “They sure are needy.”

“None of your business,” I say, my knuckles going white around my phone as I press the glowing screen against my thigh.

“What, is it that male omega or some shit?” he huffs.

I can’t hide my flinch.

Ezra’s eyes narrow on me, and he inhales a sharp breath.

He knows.

We’ve known each other long enough for us to recognize each other’s tells. And when Ezra chooses to pay attention to me, he notices.

“Fine, go and run off with your Knight in shining armor,” Ezra scoffs. “I’ve seen the headlines.”

“Don’t do this, Ezra,” I rasp.