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The last word came out on a near soundless whisper.
“I didn’t think you were going to come,” she said quietly.
“I wasn’t planning on it.” He finally looked back at her. “Then Saint shoved his nose in and told me... He made it seem like you wanted me here. But I’m going to leave. I don’t want to ruin—”
“Don’t go.”
Phoenix had already turned to leave. At her soft whisper, he froze.
“I’ve done nothing but make trouble for you, Zee. Even when you were a child and all you needed was protection, I failed you at almost every turn.” He stood with his back to her, the words coming out rough and gritty.
“No. You, Saint, Etan... you’re the reason I’m even whole, Phoenix, the reason I’m sane. And if it wasn’t for you, I never would have met Niko.” She caught her breath, the knot in her throat so big she could barely speak. “Please... don’t go.”
Slowly, he turned to look at her. “You should hate me.”
“No.” She shook her head. “But if you leave, I’m going to try. And I’ll tell Niko you made me cry. Saint and Etan, too. Even Liam.”
For a moment, he just stared at her.
Then, to her delight, a small smile appeared, widening until it split his darkly beautiful face and he chuckled.
At the sound of his laugh, she rushed to him.
And as she expected, Phoenix’s arms came around her and he swung her around, her feet leaving the soft, grassy carpet to fly through the air.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
