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“What?” Christian throws his arms out wide. “Like I’m lying? Fucker probably did all kinds of stuff just to get his fix.”

“Jesus,” Owen whispers under his breath, sliding off the counter to curl into his boyfriend’s side.

My skin goes cold and hot all at once. Shame crawls up my throat, choking me from the inside. “That’s not… You don’t know shit about me, Christian.”

“I know enough.”

“Stop it, both of you!” Logan snaps again.

Christian ignores him, glaring at me. “I gave you a place to sleep. Got you a job. Let you use my clothes, eat my food. And the second I ask for one little favor⁠—”

“This isn’t little. You're asking me to do something important!”

“So? It's an easy task, Dev. Or are you scared you'll fuck it up? Is that it? Like you've fucked everything else up in your life?”

Every muscle in my body coils tight. Before I know what I'm doing, I lunge. My arm pulls back, fist connecting with that infuriating mouth. His head snaps back for a fraction of a second, and then the asshole slams into me hard, taking me down to the floor.

“Hey!” Logan hollers, but it's drowned out by an ear-ringing punch to my temple.

“Hit me again, motherfucker,” Christian hisses, straddling my thighs before bunching my shirt up in his fists. Blood oozes from a cut on his swollen bottom lip, and the sight of it takes the anger right out of me.

I slump back onto the carpet, jaw trembling. “You really think that way? That I’m just… some fuck-up piece of shit?”

He scoffs in my face. “I've seen it with my own two eyes, man. So has Logan. And Xed. And Salem.”

A bitter laugh bubbles out of my mouth as I pry his fingers off my shirt. “You only see what you want to see. What I allow you to see. Don't fucking forget that.”

He tilts his head, silky strands tickling my cheek from how close we are. The air thickens between us. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Means what it means.” Slowly sitting up, I shove him off me and rub my tender temple with a wince.

After a few silent moments, he just plants his ass on my thighs and grabs my jaw to turn my head. “That looks gnarly. Probably gonna bruise for sure.”

“Thanks to you.”

“You hit me first.” His tongue darts out to lap at the blood on his lip. Some insane part of my brain urges me to do the same, to lick at the swollen skin and make it all better. I almost do it…

Until Logan clears his throat, bringing me to my senses.

“You two done?” he grumbles, rubbing the back of his neck. Owen stands beside him, watching us with a cute little smirk.

“We're done when I say so,” Christian answers, pulling my gaze back. Those hazel eyes seem almost… softer now, pleading as he drops his hand from my face. “Look, I don't feel like I'm asking for a lot. Just show up, drop off the cake and bounce. I’m sure my mom will fill you up with food before you go.”

I tap his hip until he finally slides off my lap. “And what if I fuck it up?”

“You probably will,” he says without hesitation.

Logan pinches the bridge of his nose with a groan. “Christian, why the fuck⁠—”

“What? Want me to lie to his pretty face?”

Owen’s eyebrows damn near fly off his face, but I choose to ignore that comment. “What if they ask why I'm the one doing this shit instead of you?”

“Just tell them some stunt stuff came up, but I'm on my way.”

I shake my head slowly. “You're a fucking dick.”

“And you owe me,” Christian shrugs, unfazed. “I need this, Dev. Please.”