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“Were you sleeping?” I ask, leaning against the doorframe.

He exhales slowly. “Nah. Just thinking.”

“Bad Thanksgiving?”

“Weird Thanksgiving,” he huffs.

I step inside and stop by the edge of the bed, careful not to crowd him even though I… kind of want to? For a moment, neither of us speaks.

“How was yours?” he asks eventually.

“Loud,” I shrug, pulling off my shirt before letting my jeans slide to the floor. “My mom cooked enough food to feed a small village. We’ll be eating on leftovers for a month.”

He releases a snort, but says nothing else.

“You wanna talk about it?”

The corners of his jaw tighten, then relax again. “Yeah. Maybe. I just… need a minute.”

“Take all the time you need, pastelito.”

When he finally drops his arm to look at me, something in his expression tugs at my chest.

“Come here,” he murmurs, holding out a hand. His warm palms slide up my thighs as I straddle his hips in nothing but my underwear. “I missed you. Is that okay to say?”

Well, that…

Fuck, that makes my heart hurt.

“You could have come with me,” I tell him, my own hands wandering a path over his chest.

“I know. But I think… I think I needed tonight to happen.” He turns his gaze over to my stereo, brows furrowed. “My parents weren't what I was expecting.”

“Which was?”

“I don't know, cold, I guess? Growing up, they weren't around much, and after they told me the truth, I ran. Never looked back. That was ten years ago, but they… they welcomed me today. Told my younger brothers the truth of who I was. I spent all of dinner getting to know them, and even though it was nice, I just kept feeling like maybe it was too late to try.”

I move my fingers up to rub away the tension in his neck. “It's not. They're still little, man. Plenty of time to make new memories.”

“That's what my mother kept saying.” Dev leans into my touch, his eyes closing briefly. “It's just a shitty situation all around. I get that they couldn't tell me the truth until I was an adult, and I know they were just kids themselves when they had me. Maybe I shouldn't have spent so long running from them. I just know I don't want to run anymore. From anything.”

My movements halt as I glance up to find his gaze on my face. The heavy look in his eyes quickens my pulse. “You talking about us?”

He slowly nods. “Us. Life. All the things that might end up hurting me in the end. Maybe, sometimes the pain makes it worth it. The memories and experiences make it worth it.”

“I'd never do anything to hurt you,” I murmur, leaning forward to press a kiss to his lips. “Not again.”

“Again?” His head tilts, hair rumpling against the pillow.

It's my turn to nod, and I drop my gaze over his stomach. “Last year, we all left you in a pretty bad state. Still healing from a punctured lung, probably addicted to pills and shit. You kept reaching out to me, but… I fucking blocked you, man. After all that shit with Arya went down, I was scared to get close to you again. But you needed me, and I wasn't there.” Raising my eyes again, I give him my full attention, because I want him to see how much I mean this next part. “I'm sorry, Dev. I know I can't fix it, but I promise on everything I care about that I'll never abandon you again.”

The breath leaves his lungs in one quick gust. He searches my face, eyes glistening slightly as his lips part in surprise. And when he pulls me down to crush our mouths together, I let him, if only to pour all of my guilt and shame into the kiss.

“Christian,” he whispers as our tongues tangle together. His hands trail down my back, sending shivers down my spine. “Christian, I… fuck. I don't…”

“You don't need to say anything. Just know that I always keep my promises and I never turn my back on my family.”

He smiles against my lips. “You saying I'm your family now, hot shot?”