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"Whatever," I e can, stomp my foot on the pedal at the base, and when the lid raises, I try to stuff the box inside

Except it’s about two sizes too big, so I wrestle with it, taking my frustration out on the cardboard and the two aro in et it to conforry?" Hawke asks quietly from behind me

My body stiffens as I make a last hard push to cram it all in and I blink my eyes rapidly to dispel the moisture "No," I say sullenly

Starved,people at a gynore the remark and instead turn on him "Seriously, Hahy are you here?"

"Because I orried about your dad," he says si froht have lost contact over the years, I still like and respect your dad very much Why wouldn’t I check in to say hello?"

He has a point, and I don’t like it, because I don’t like anything about Hawke being back in uilt and heartache back to life My heart is already full to bursting orry and dread; I don’t have room for all of the emotions that co to me

"Fine," I say, my voice heavy with exhaustion "You’re concerned about hi contact with old friends"

No erator and pull out a protein shake I keep stocked It won’t satisfyAs I twist the cap, I notice Hawke lean back against the counter, crossing his arry with me?" he asks softly "I’m not the one that abandoned first"

My eyes widen with surprise even as guilt flushes through ht, I’m the one that cut ties, but surely he has to admit that I tried to rectify…

No, wait…doesn’t matter What’s done is done

"Listen, it’s late for et a shower, head to bed," I tell him firmly as I move past hiers curl in to stop me, and I hate the sudden flash of euphoria over his touch That shouldn’t happen I should never feel that way from one simple touch

"Why, Vale?" he whispers, his eyes hard yet filled with need

My breath seizes inup my most basic need to survive I s hard, suck in deep through runts with exasperation

More hot anger flashes through y "Maybe you should have asked why back when--"