Page 104 of Freestyle

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I bury my face in my hands.

What does that mean for us?

Forher?

Foreverything?

I thought loving Rowyn was the thing that cracked me open and maybe it was, but Phoenix filled a piece of me I didn’t know was hollow until itwasn’tanymore. Now I’m standing in this strange, beautiful space that terrifies me more than any enemy ever could.

Because this?

This isreal.

Not adrenaline. Not impulse.

It’slove.

Messy, unexpected, complicated-as-hell love.

And the scariest part?

I don’t think I’d change it. Not any of it.

So I sit there in the hallway, alone with my storm, and let myself feel every wave of it.

The guilt. The relief.

The fear.

Thewant.

Because after everything we’ve been through, we deserve more than just survival.

We deserve truth.

Even if it scares the hell out of me.

Phoenix

I find him slumped outside the hospital room, legs folded up, head tipped back against the wall like the ceiling might have answers he hasn’t found on earth.

For a second, I don’t say anything.

I just watch him.

Because in all the years I’ve known Gray, I’ve seen him cracked. I’ve seen him furious. I’ve seen him take punches no one else could and stand taller because of it.

But I’veneverseen him like this.

He looks like he finally let himselffeeleverything he’s been holding back, and now it’s swallowing him whole.

I move slowly, dropping down beside him with a quiet grunt. He doesn’t look over.

“Got room for one more in your pity party?” I offer, voice soft.

He huffs out a breath, half-laugh, half-collapse, but doesn’t speak.

So I do.

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