Page 33 of Connor

But I was already spiraling. Already letting the anger eat me alive because if I stopped, if I let myself feel—

No. It was easier this way.

I stepped forward. "What? Don’t tell me it’s me, Princess? It’s been two months, and I’d be a fool to think you haven’t shown that pretty pink cunt to anyone els—"

The crack of her palm against my face echoed through the apartment.

My head snapped to the side, the sting blooming across my skin. But it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

Silence.

I lifted my hand, pressing my fingers against the spot she hit, my breath coming too hard, too fast. I should’ve said something. Should’ve apologized. Should’ve told her she didn’t compare to any other women, no matter how many I used to try and erase the feel of her. No one else came close.

But it was better this way, and even though I hated myself when tears welled in her eyes, I didn’t bother to apologize as I turned on my heel and walked out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. I didn’t look back. Not at the doorway. Not at the apartment. Not at her.

I didn’t know where the fuck I was going. I didn’t care. But there was no way in hell I could look at her. If I gave in and showed her how I really felt, I’d hurt her. There was way too much fucking history for me not to, and that was the last damn thing I wanted.

I wasn’t my father. Blood or not. I refused to be a dipshit like he was.

I just knew I needed to leave before I said something even worse. Before I did something I couldn’t take back. The night was cold. My footsteps were too loud against the pavement. I should go home. But the only thing waiting for me at homewas my mother’s accusations that stung a little more after my conversation with Summer.

So I kept walking. Kept burning every bridge in my path.

Because fuck it.

It’s what I did best.

Chapter 10

Summer

The apartment was too quiet.

The air still vibrated through the walls from the force of the door slamming shut. I swore I could feel the echo of it in my chest, rattling against my ribs. I stood there, frozen, my jaw clenched so tight it ached,. Every part of me was aching, my mind spinning, but I refused to cry.

Not yet.

Not in front of them.

Quinn and North were watching me carefully, waiting. They’d come back after Connor stormed out, slamming the door behind himself. Their eyes were heavy, weighted with something like expectation, or maybe it was pity. I hated that. Hated the way they looked at me like I was something fragile, something that might shatter under the weight of their concern.

I took a shaky breath and forced the words out, my voice coming out flatter than I expected. "I told him."

Quinn’s expression darkened instantly. "And?"

I swallowed hard. My throat burned. "He laughed."

But that hadn’t even been the most hurtful part, it was what he’d said afterward. Connor and I might have never been in a relationship, but for me, sleeping with anyone else felt like an impossibility. To me, Connor was everything I’d ever wanted, flaws and all. I couldn’t replace that. I couldn’t just replace him. He was my first everything—first kiss, first fuck, first heartbreak, and now, the father of my child.

This was such a fucking mess.

North muttered a curse under his breath. His jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscle tick beneath his skin.

"And then," I added, forcing the words out before I lost the courage, "he accused me of lying."

Silence.

Quinn’s entire body went still. Then—

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