Page 387 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“Exactly.”

“Then answer.”

Elliot looked toward the hospital. His mother somewhere upstairs. Then back.

“Because I need to know whether any part of my life was actually mine.”

That ended the argument. Ronan felt it physically. Fuck. Elliot continued.

“Tyler.”

“Yours.”

“Saint was there.”

“Still yours.”

“Grace.”

“Your choice.”

“They encouraged me.”

“Still your choice.”

“Benjamin.”

“Yours.”

“Mason. Lucas.”

“Yours.”

Elliot stared. Ronan realized what he was doing. Not absolving him. Opposite. Giving responsibility back. Elliot’s eyes softened.

“Even the bad?”

“Especially the bad.”

Silence.

“And us?” Elliot asked.

Ronan stared. There it was. The actual question. Saint knew about Ronan before they were together. Had watched. Encouraged Elliot’s possessiveness. Maybe manipulated jealousy. Maybe pushed Dylan. If Saint had touched that too— Ronan stepped closer.

“Us is ours.”

Elliot looked at him.

“How do you know?”

“Because Saint never made me kiss you.”

Silence.

“Never made me stay.”

Elliot swallowed.