Page 85 of Beautiful Scars

"She's not yours either, Levi." Zane's voice is calm, but there's an unmistakable bite to it.

There's a pause, the kind that's heavy with meaning, and I inch toward the door, my heart pounding.

"She said it herself. She doesn't owe you a damn thing," Zane says, his voice low but firm. "Whatever you think you had with her, you ruined it. You gotta know there's no going back. Especially after this morning."

"I was wrong. I get it. I shouldn't have assumed—"

"You think?" The disappointment and hurt is clear in Z's voice.

"I have to try and fix things. I can't let her go again without trying to make things right. You have to see that." Levi snaps, the crack in his voice unexpected.

I press my ear to the door, listening to every single word.

"She's not some prize you can earn," Zane says, softer now. "She's been through enough withouteitherof us turning this into some sort of pissing match."

Levi doesn't respond immediately, and when he does, his voice is quieter. "I know that. But I can't just walk away. Not again."

There's another long silence, and I can almost picture the two of them staring each other down, opposite sides of the same coin.

"She deserves better," Zane says finally.

"I know," Levi replies, his voice heavy. "But I'm going to prove to her that I'm not the same person I was. I have to. Even if she never forgives me, she has to know that I never stopped thinking about her. Never stopped loving her, and I will never stop looking out for her now that I know she's alive."

Something shifts in Zane's tone, a hint of resignation. "Good luck with that,brother," he mutters. "Because she already has someone looking out for her. And it's not you."

I pull away from the door and sit on the edge of the bed, my fingers twisting in the hem of Z's borrowed shirt. Everything's too bright, too sharp. Too much.

The words echo and blur together in my head.Never stopped loving her.

I remember feeling so beautiful, so loved with him. I'd felt safe for the first time in my whole life. Until I didn't.

Z understands silence. Knows when to push and when to wait. His presence is solid, steady. No expectations. No demands. Just... there.

God, that raw break in Levi's voice. The pain. Real pain that he didn't know I was hearing.

My chest aches, hollow and full at the same time. Relief mingles with fear, with shame. There's no way that the men in this house didn't hear every word of what I said.

And, to top all of it off, somewhere out there, someone's watching. Someone good enough to slip past Z's defenses is waiting for an opening to get to me.

I press my palms against my eyes until colors burst behind my lids. A month ago, my biggest worry was making rent. Now...

My stomach growls, reminding me I haven't eaten since last night. The memory of the dinner last night feels like it happened in another lifetime. I'm not ready to leave this room though. To face anyone. Not yet.

I don't know how much time passes before I hear footsteps coming down the hall. My breath catches and I stay silent.

"Sunny?" Z's voice is soft, careful. "I brought you some dinner. It’s good. Jayce insisted on baking you some fresh bread and more of the soup you like."

I stay silent, my throat too tight to speak. Part of me wants to open the door, to let him in. But I can't. Not yet. Not when everything is so raw and confused.

"I just, I want to make sure you're okay," he continues. "You don't have to talk. You don't have to open the door. I'll leave it right here for you."

I hear the gentle clink of a tray being set down, followed by Z's quiet sigh.

"Take all the time you need, Sunny. I'm here when you're ready."

His footsteps retreat down the hall, and I wait until they fade completely before moving to the door. My hand hovers over the locks, trembling slightly.

The scent of fresh bread and herbs seeps under the door, making my stomach clench. I unlock the door as quietly as possible, opening it just enough to slide the tray inside.

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