Page 35 of Connor

I unlocked the door then shoved it open, waving my arm over my head to let her know everything was alright before I entered.

As soon as the door was closed and locked, I dropped my mask and spun around to face my empty apartment. Not even bothering to switch on the tv like I normally did, I stumbled to my bed before I collapsed onto the mattress.

I told myself I wouldn’t cry.

But the tears slipped out anyway. First one. Then another. And another. And then I was breaking apart all at once, my face buried in the pillow, silent sobs shaking my body. This wasn’t what I wanted.Noneof this was what I wanted.

***

I cried until I had nothing left, exhaustion finally dragging me under. But sleep didn’t last long before a loudthudagainst my door ripped me out of my bad dreams.

For a moment, I didn’t know where I was, my heart pounding as I sat up, trying to shake off the fog of exhaustion. Then—another thud and a voice. Slurred. Loud. Angry. So fucking familiar that my heart ached.

"SUMMER! Open the damn door!"

My stomach dropped and I stumbled out of bed, my pulse hammering, reaching the door just as the next fist collided against it.

"Connor, what the hell—"

Then Isawhim. He was drunk. Beyond drunk. His eyes were bloodshot, his posture unsteady, his jaw tight with something unreadable. And standing next to him, arms crossed, looking just as exhausted—North.

"What is he doing here?" I asked North, my voice low.

"He showed up at my place. I figured it was better to bring him here than let him drive off a cliff."

Connor scoffed. "Like I’d be that lucky."

His words cut deeper than they should have. I stepped forward, ignoring the pounding in my head. "Connor, you need to go home."

Helaughed. A sharp, bitter sound. "Home?" His eyes darkened. "Pretty sure I don’t have one of those anymore."

My throat closed. I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t know what he wanted from me. Then he stepped closer, his voice dropping, his gaze flickering over my face. "You really meant it, huh?"

My breath caught. "Connor—" Like I’d ever lie about something like this. And for what? To have him call me a whore?

But he was already reaching for me, his hands sliding across my waist, his touch heavy, unfocused. I became still. His mouth brushed against my jaw, his breath warm against my skin,tinged with whiskey.

"We could forget about all this for a little while," he murmured. His lips trailed lower. And despite the way my body softened at his touch, I still put a hand out to stop him.

"Connor, stop."

He didn’t. His hands slid up my back, his voice thick with something desperate. "Come on, baby. We could forget all about this for the night. Just let me—"

Ishovedhim.Hard. More forceful than I should’ve, but fuck if I’d let him call me hisbabyafter he accused me of being a whore. I’d always been Princess, or Summer. There was no wayin hell I was going to allow him to drop me to that category now. Regardless of where we stood on the baby issue.

Connor stumbled back, blinking in surprise and my anger grew. He probably hadn’t even realized, but I did. That nickname was supposed to be mine. Reverence was such a small town that everyone knew everyone, and when no one knew you were fucking Connor McIntyre then no one had any reason not to tell you the gossip of his flings. That was my torture, just like the nicknames had become my only pride—back when I was still certain he might’ve given a shit but was just hiding it.

I wasn’t so sure anymore.

"I said stop!" I shouted, unimpressed. He would’ve, I knew that. But I didn’t feel like being held by him any longer after what he’d said—what he’d fucking accused me of.

He stared at me. And for the first time tonight, he actually lookedsober.

"I’m not dealing with you when you’re like this," I said, my voice shaking but firm. "Not after what you did. Not after you hurt me."

Because those words had hurt me. They’d fucking ripped my heart in two. I’d given this man everything. My first kiss. My virginity. Mylove. And yes, I knew that he never asked for any of it, but he could atleast act a little more fucking responsible rather than accusing me of sleeping with someone else.

Connor swallowed hard. And for a second—just asecond—I saw something break in his expression.Regret. Maybe evenshame. But then it was gone. Replaced by somethingcolder. That familiar mask that he liked to hide behind. "Fine."

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