Page 85 of Setting Limits

“I just don’t want Lochlyn to lose his best friend over me. It’s not worth it.I’mnot worth it.”

Shay stands and walks over to me, putting her hands on my shoulders. “For one, you don’t give yourself enough credit, because you are, to us especially. And secondly, you know Lochlyn doesn’t hold grudges for too long. I think he’s going to forgive Wes. But for now, let him be mad, let him keep Wes at a distance. Especially because it makes him feel like he’s doing something for you.”

“He’s doing a lot for me. But okay.”

“Yeah, well, you two share more than DNA. He’s harder on himself than he needs to be, too.” She walks back over and flops in her chair, pulling her book back into her lap.

“You’re one to talk, missy.” She shrugs that same shoulder she always lifts but doesn’t turn around.

This isn’t the first time Shay has told me that I’m worth more than I recognize. Not even lately, she’s always said that about me. But this is the first time I feel like I actuallyhearher.

Maybe she’s right. Maybe I am worth it. Clearly, I wasn’t to Wes. But perhaps I am to other people, and maybe that’s enough.

Chapter 45

Walkingbackfromclassas a trio has become a routine. Shay and Lochlyn are kind enough to wait for me since my class finishes last. It was the little bit of leeway I was able to get Shay to give me, waiting on campus sometimes instead of at the dorm. At least I know she’s getting good studying done while she waits.

They’re laughing quietly behind me about something that I know I should be joining in on their joy with, but I’m distracted, just like I have been since May.

But when the chattering and giggles behind me stop, my head snaps up, and I’m met with dark hair and cobalt eyes.

My whole body completely halts. My feet are stuck to the concrete, and I’m suffocating from the lack of oxygen.

“We, um…we’ll give you two some time.” Shay’s voice is in a vacuum from the blood rushing through my body. Despite that overwhelming sound, I can still hear Lochlyn’s teeth practically cracking behind me. “Move, Lochlyn.” From the strain in Shay’s voice, I can tell she’s pushing him.

Wes was his best friend, but he hurt me. And while we’ve had our differences and I’ve fucked up with him more than I can ever atone for, I’m still his baby sister, and he’ll protect me until the end. The only person I know he’d take a bullet for over me is Shay. And I’m okay with that, because I would, too.

While I’m usually a chatty person, I’m at a complete loss for words. What do you say to the man who left, breaking your heart in the process? And why is he here?

I’m sure he’d give me the answer to the last one if I asked, if I got closer, if I saidanything.

Thankfully, he takes over, closing the gap by a few steps, his hand outstretched toward me, and then stopping a few feet away, his hand dropping.

“Hey, Chels.” He runs that same hand through his hair, disrupting the strands that had been nicely sideswept. That’s his nervous tell. What does he have to be nervous about?

“Hey, Wes.”

In all the years we’ve known each other, we’ve never had an issue communicating with one another. And yet here we stand, mere feet apart and unable to utter a single word beyond a greeting.

“I—”

“It’s—”

We both start at the same time and stop as soon as we realize the other is talking.

“Go ahead.” I nod at him. I need to hear what he has to say.

“Chelsea…I’m—” When he stops, I meet his intense gaze and my brows crinkle. “Oh, fuck this.”

He closes the gap between us in two quick strides, looping an arm around my waist and cupping my face with his other hand as he dips me backward and connects our lips.

Everything around me stops. Time, the wind, all sounds cease to exist, and I’m sure the earth has stopped spinning. There’s nothing but me and Wes.

Which is exactly how it’s supposed to be.

When he separates and straightens us—all too soon—I want to climb him, attach myself to him, and never leave his side again.

As it is, he keeps his hand on the side of my neck, thumb brushing along my jaw.

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