Page 136 of The Chaos She Brings

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I scowl at Tess whose face is lit up so radiantly I can’t even be angry at her for outing me. “This is your fault.”

Once the horror ofthatencounter fades, Nate fills me in onwhat I’ve missed—which, frankly, isn’t much—before I show Tess to my own office.

She sits across from me while I work, legs pulled up onto the chair, scrolling through her phone but barely looking at it.

I try to focus on the spreadsheets piling up on my desk, but every so often, I glance up.

She’s still there.

Stillwatchingme, like she’s making sure I don’t disappear.

At lunch, Carina comes to collect her.

“C’mon, babe. Let’s eat.”

Tess hesitates, her fingers tightening around the chair’s armrest. For a second, her eyes linger on me, uncertainty flickering behind them.

I don’t push her. I don’t tell her to go.

I wait.

Then, finally, she nods and stands, following Carina out.

As the door swings shut, I let out a slow breath.

Relief floods me.

And then—guilt.

It settles deep in my gut like a stone.

I’m not used to someoneneedingme like this. Seeing me as their security blanket.

It should feel good, right?

But instead, it’ssuffocating.

Shoving the thought away, I bury myself in spreadsheets.

I don’t notice how much time has passed until I glance at the clock.

Three hours.

And Tess still hasn’t come back.

45

I Don’t Want To Think About It

Tess to Kai: I’m sorry. I don’t mean to annoy you. I just can’t get him out of my head. [unsent]

Tess

“Howareyou?”Carinaasks once we settle into a booth at a quirky café near Haven’s head office.

I groan and let my head drop onto the table. “I think I’m pissing Kai off.”

Carina arches a brow. “Why?”

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