Page 77 of Stella

It hadn’t hurt this badly when Ava left. It had almost been a relief.

This felt like death, like my soul slowly leaking away from my body.

I shouldn’t have brought up the prenup to Stella, but I didn’t see how it could have gone so wrong so quickly. She was waiting for a reason to break up.

Fine. That was fine. I was fine.

“Yo, Simon.” Evan walked into the room and opened a curtain, sunlight piercing the room with its unforgiving glare.

I hissed. The one thing I’d made time for was booze, and I had an empty bottle of really good Scotch on the nightstand.

Evan opened my closet, and pulled a plastic container of tennis balls out.

He threw one at me, aiming for my shoulder. It hit me with a thuck. “Hey asshole, get up.”

I grumbled, rolling away.

Jerrick came in with a plate of eggs and bacon.

My stomach growled, and then queasiness lurched. “No food.”

Jerrick ignored me and put the food on my nightstand. His blond hair was pulled back and I ached to touch him.

Evan hit me with another tennis ball, this one hitting my butt.

“Oww, hey.” I glared at Evan. “Make your point.”

“It’s time to stop wallowing.” Evan crossed his arms over his chest as Jerrick helped me into a sitting position.

I touched my beta’s arm, some of the pain going away. “I missed you.”

“We missed you too, dude.” Evan hefted another tennis ball. “That’s why it’s time to stop wallowing.”

“I’m not wallowing.”

Evan raised an eyebrow, looking around the room. Empty scotch bottles littered the floor. The bed wasn’t made, the sheets were twisted like a murderer had come in the night to strangle me.

I almost wished he had. Then I would have had a good fight.

I sighed, sitting up, and took the plate. I bit into the egg, swallowing cautiously.

Evan wrinkled his nose. “You smell like a bar. After breakfast, it’s time for a shower.”

My libido jumped at that. I looked over at him, and he grinned. “Nice to see you’re not so far gone if the idea of me naked arouses you.”

“Of course.” I grumbled. “I did this for us.”

Jerrick sat on the bed. “You did this because you’re scared that Stella is going to break your heart.”

“Which, in case you haven’t noticed, she already has.” Evan sat on the other side of the bed. “And you started it.”

“The last time I let myself care that much I made bad decisions. I let my instincts over protecting my omega get in the way of us.”

Evan frowned, and Jerrick’s face softened.

“Simon.” Jerrick put a hand on my leg. “We don’t blame you.”

“Iblame me.” I exhaled. “I shouldn’t have let it go that far. I shouldn’t have ever let it seem like I chose her over you two.”

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