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A bitter laugh escaped me. “That’s convenient, isn’t it?”

His brows pulled together. “Rose—”

“No.” I held up a hand, my pulse pounding. “You made your choice, Wells. You decided to backtrack on everything you told me.” My voice cracked despite my best effort to keep it steady. “You don’t get to stand here now and act like you didn’t know what you were doing.”

His face twisted, like my words physically hurt. Good.

“I was scared,” he admitted.

I scoffed. “Of what?”

His hands flexed at his sides. “Of wanting this too much.”

I blinked, caught off guard.

“Of screwing it up. Of losing you before I even had the chance to—” He dragged a hand through his hair, frustration laced in every movement. “I handled it wrong, Rose. I panicked and I made a mistake. But you have to know that it was never about not wanting you.”

I stared at him, my heart aching in a way I hated. Because I did know. I felt it when we were together. But knowing that didn’t make it hurt any less.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay firm. “It doesn’t change anything.”

His breath left him in a slow, measured exhale. “So that’s it?”

I hesitated. Just for a second. But a second was all it took.

Wells saw it.

And that terrified me more than anything.

Before I could say anything else, the lock on the door clicked.

Blythe’s voice filtered through. “Well? Are you two done being stubborn idiots, or do I need to keep you in there longer?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

The door was unlocked, but neither of us moved. I could’ve walked out.

I should’ve walked out.

But I didn’t.

I stood there, arms crossed so tightly it hurt, every muscle in my body tense. Wells took a step closer, and I told myself I wouldn’t listen. That I wouldn’t let him get to me.

Then he said my name.

Soft. Desperate.

And I felt it.

“Rose,” he said again, his voice thick with something I didn’t want to name.

I exhaled sharply. “Wells, don’t—”

“No.” He shook his head. “I have to.”

Something in his expression made my stomach flip. It wasn’t just regret. It wasn’t just an apology.

“You changed everything for me,” he said, his voice rough, raw.