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“There was no ‘basically’ about it,” Cami says quietly. “But I’m okay now. We can all talk about that later, I think—at least in parts—it’s something we’ll all have to worry about and consider moving forward.”

Dex’s expression is more serious than I’ve seen it in a long time.

He looks from Micah to me to Cami before he steps up to her. She opens her knees slightly, inviting him closer. He steps between her thighs and—in a move I’m not sure I thought he was capable of—he tips her chin up with his knuckles until she’s fully looking at him.

Dex studies her face for several seconds. Longer than I expect him to.

Cami’s smile falters.

Then her eyes fill with tears.

“Shhh, dollface,” Dex whispers as he wraps his arms around her. “We’re all here. You’re safe.”

I knew she hadn’t processed what happened. I knew that intellectually.

But I believed her when she said she was okay for now.

Dex didn’t.

Or maybe he saw something I didn’t.

That realization lands harder than I expect.

I look at Micah.

He looks back.

Neither of us moves.

I am always the confident one.

Always the one who knows what to do.

But right now?

Right now I’m fucking lost.

I didn’t have a plan for what happened at my parents’ house.

I didn’t follow the plan I did have for having Cami to myself.

There are too many pieces moving at once.

Ben. My family. Cami. What happened between us. What happened to her. Dex seeing something I missed. Micah waiting. Everyone looking for what comes next.

My thoughts stop lining up correctly.

Noise from the refrigerator suddenly feels too loud. The overhead light is too bright. I become aware of the seam inside my shirt against my shoulder.

Fuck.

I’m dysregulating.

I can’t let it take me all the way under.

Not tonight.

Tonight is too important—for so many reasons.