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“I liked it,” she whispers “Thank you… I want to learn more… I wasn’t sure you’d remember that part”

“I do—did, I think” I frown “Everything feels blocked, fuzzy, like a over but won’t ever fully conquer” It’s the best I can do

“Okay” She nods “Okay”

“Was this our goodbye?” I hate that I’ this I hate that I have mere moments left with her

“No” She actually s someone for the first time…”

I flinch “Shit”

“I think Sim’s smarter than you” She says it like she finds it funny then winks “All that science and you can’t even remember, what a waste”

I squint “Are you teasing ht now?”

“You’re the funny one What do you think?”

I sigh and hangthese knots” I graze ain, which is probably sick—”

“Nothing between us is sick,” she says “Nothing”

I nod and then pull her in for a hug and slowly start to undo all of the knots, then reach for her boxers and pull theround

I’m weirdly upset I only rements my brain allows me to see and keep

“Coainst her and holds me there

A knock sounds at the door

I wonder how long we’ve been in there; I still feel cheated

The door bursts open, and it’s Chase I know I can’t shield him from the smell of sex or the rope at our feet

“Maksi if it’s me Does he know that it will always be me? Just a different part of me

“Yeah” I almost roll my eyes

“There’s a problem”

I freeze “What?”

“King snuck off to ood on his promise without any protection—without any of us, and nobody knohere he is”