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“Sorry” She rested a hand on his cheek “I’ll go now”

When he didn’t say anything else, she walked for the door She was halfway through it when he said, “Lydia?”

She froze, a hand on the doorjamb “Yeah?”

“No one else knows I get these No one…” He cleared his throat “Thank you”

Blinking back tears, she didn’t face him “You’re welcome And don’t worry Your secret is safe with me”

She walked out of the rooht She didn’t take money from him, because she didn’t need to Her brother lived two streets over, so she’d just walk there Truth was, she kind of needed the time alone to clear her head Holt obviously had a heck of a lot going on, and no one else knew about it

Where was his support person? His parents? Siblings? Anyone?

Even more importantly, where the hell was Steven, his best bud?

By the time she made it to his door, she was furious She marched up the stone ay, lifted her fist, and pounded on the door When he didn’t answer, she did it again A fewsound, and then a muffled curse

The door swung open, and Steven stood there wearing nothing but a pair of boxers, his ink, and a scowl He had a Glock in his hand, and his hair stuck up in different places Once he saho stood there, he dropped his hand to his side and closed the door enough that he could step behind it “Jesus, Lyd What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong But you knohat? You’re a—” She broke off, realizing at the last second that she couldn’t yell at him She’d promised not to tell anyone about Holt’s pain, and she wouldn’t “I mean, I was at a friend’s house, and I had to leave Can I sleep here?”

He nodded “Yes, of course But are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah”

“Do I need to kick someone’s ass?”

She shook her head and slipped her coat off She’d never even taken it off at Holt’s Everything had happened so fast “No, I’m fine I just need to sleep”