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I scowl “Oh, so you three are allowed to basically stalk ers in alleys and follow ht—but I’ about you?”

The shifting light of passing streetlarins “Fair point I like that you’re curious about us” He glances at me “Marcus isn’t the only one es you, you know When you saved his life, you probably saved ours too”

“It was an accident,” I say automatically

The words feel more and more like a lie every time I utter them, and the look Theo shoots me lets me know he doesn’t believe it for a second I don’t want hih, so instead, I distract him with a question of my own

“If you and Ryland both owe me like you said, how come he hates me so much and you don’t?”

Theo flicks his blinker on and ht turn “Ry doesn’t hate you”

“Could’ve fooled me”

“He doesn’t” He runs his free hand through his golden-blond hair “He’s just… protective”

Like Marcus fucking needs protecting from anyone

I snort “Yeah Okay”

“He’ll come around”

I don’t answer that, because the honest truth is, I should have no reason to want Ryland to come around It shouldn’tabout him like this makes it seem as if he’s part of my life in a way that makes me uneasy

As if he’s a permanent part of it

As if our lives will always be entwined, no matter how hard I try to break the connection

Or maybe even how hard he does