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Jenson sighed. “That doesn’t mean you lash out, attack her, and get yourself arrested, Holly. You’ve potentially jeopardized everything you’ve done so far to secure your future. Do you understand that?” I hiccupped, nodding my head. “What you did was reckless and stupid, Holly.”

I sniffled, nodding again because I didn’t know what the fuck to say. Sighing, Jenson reached out and dragged me into his arms, pressing his lips to my forehead. He held them there for a moment, his arms squeezing me to him. Something inside of me shattered at his tenderness despite how badly I’d fucked up.

“They hate me,” I cried. I hiccupped again, tears pouring from my eyes. I couldn’t handle my parents hating me like this.

Jenson sighed and rested his chin on the top of my head. “They don’t hate you, doll. Your parents are concerned—and rightfully so. And they’re worried about the impact this will have on you and your future.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and gripped his shirt in my hands, twisting the fabric in my fists. He ran his hands over my back. “I know I was stupid.” I hiccupped again. “My anger got the best of me.”

Jenson ran his hand over my hair before gripping a fistful and gently tugging my head back from his chest so he could look down at me. “Sometimes, being the bigger person and walking away says more than throwing your fists and your weight around. If she went behind your back and betrayed you like that, then she wasn’t worth the energy you expended.”

My bottom lip trembled. The betrayal hurt. God, it hurt. She’d been my best friend, yet she chose some lame-ass dick over years of friendship.

“It hurts,” I whispered, casting my eyes down from his.

Jenson leaned down and kissed some of my tears away, somehow soothing the ache in my chest as he did so. “I know it does, doll. It’s going to. But eventually, you’ll come to realize that she wasn’t worth your time, your anger, or your tears.” He suddenly lifted me, and I wrapped my arms and legs around him, clinging to him as tightly as I could. With one arm curled beneath my ass, he ran his other hand down my spine. “How about a shower and some cuddles?”

I sniffled and nodded my head. He pressed a kiss to my temple before walking up the stairs with me in his arms, comforting me even if I knew I didn’t deserve it. But if he’d turned his back on me like my parents had, I wasn’t sure if I could have coped.

At least I still had Jenson.

7

Holly

Jenson eyed me over the rim of his coffee mug. My hair was hanging wet around my shoulders from my shower since I’d been too lazy and drained to bother blow-drying it. I knew my eyes were puffy. I was a fucking mess—a nervous wreck. My dad had texted me this morning, telling me to be home by ten so we could talk about what happened.

I was so anxious that I was sick to my stomach. I wasn’t ready to face him yet.

“Just take a deep breath,” Jenson told me. “You need to eat something.”

I shook my head with a small laugh. “I couldn’t stomach anything if I tried, Jenson.” I pushed my fingers through my wet strands, staring at his pristine, white countertop. “I hate disappointing them. Dad has always had super high expectations for me, and I always met them. This is…” My voice trailed off. I didn’t even know how to explain how this felt.

“You’re learning still, Holly. But he was in the wrong yesterday, too. You’re his daughter, and instead of talking to you like a sensible, grown man, he lashed out at you, said things he shouldn’t have, and then kicked you out for the night. Where would you have slept if I hadn’t been there to bring you here?”

I shrugged, not verbally answering. Because the truth was, Ihadnowhere to go. My car, as far as I knew, was still in the parking lot of the mall, and that was in a whole other town. WhatwouldI have done if Jenson hadn’t been there, ready to rescue me and give me a roof over my head?

“Exactly,” Jenson grumbled when I remained silent. He made me a cup of coffee and slid it to me. “If you’re not going to eat, then at least drink some coffee. It’ll besomethingin your stomach.”

I sighed and picked up the mug, bringing it to my lips. I bit back a smile when I realized he’d made it exactly how I preferred it. It showed he’d been paying attention to me, and that warmed my insides. In all the time Derrick and I had been dating, he hadnevergotten something as simple as this right.

Jenson set his coffee down and disappeared from the kitchen. I sighed and grabbed my phone, checking the time, swallowing when I saw I only had a few more minutes.

God, I was not ready to face my parents.

“Breathe,” Jenson whispered into my ear as he slid something around my neck. I shivered and looked down, tears welling in my eyes at the simple necklace. The thin chain was sterling silver, and a sterling silver bar hung almost to my breasts that read, “Breathe.”

“Jenson,” I croaked, turning to face him.

He cupped my face in his hands and gently kissed me. “You’re always worrying so much,” he said, his eyes meeting mine. “So, I wanted to get you something to remind you to just breathe when I can’t be there to remind you myself.”

I threw my arms around his neck, and he quickly wrapped his around my back, pressing me to his hard frame. “I don’t deserve you,” I croaked.

He pressed his lips to my temple. “Let me be the judge of that, doll.”

My hand shookas I gripped the doorknob. Drawing in a deep breath, I pushed it down and entered the house, toeing off my sneakers by the front door. I gripped the strap of my bag tightly as I walked through the house. I felt like I was treading on eggshells, and if I made one of them crack, the aftermath would be akin to a bomb exploding.

Mom and Dad were both sitting in the dining room, waiting on me. I quickly took a seat, setting my overnight bag between my feet on the floor. Then, I clenched my hands together under the table, determined not to fidget—at least, not where they could see.

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