Greek (Palm South University)

Jess is spending the evening with Ashlei — likely trying to convince her that it’s time to tell Brandon what she discovered during our trip. The poor girl is so scared of his reaction that she’s taken four more tests since we returned home, all with the same result.

With Jess out of the condo, I have it all to myself, and I’m finally ready to see Clinton and tell him what happened.

Three firm knocks signal that he’s at the door, and when I open it, my tongue turns to sandpaper at what I see. He looks just as devastated as me, bags under his bloodshot eyes and shoulders sagging. Suddenly, all the fighting, all the silence after and the space I thought I needed from him to process feel like the most pointless, stupid waste of time.

My bottom lip wobbles, and that’s all it takes for Bear to rush through the threshold and crush me into his arms.

“I’m here,” he whispers into my hair, and I nod vigorously, clutching him tight as I reluctantly give in to emotion.

I don’t want to cry over them, over what they did to me — not anymore.

But I can’t deny that this hurts.

Clinton holds me until I give him the cue that I’m ready to go inside, and when I do, he takes my hand and guides me. Soft jazz plays from the small speaker in our kitchen, and that along with the candles set a soothing scene.

He drops the bag of food he brought on the kitchen counter, ignoring it as he pulls me over to the couch. He sinks down first, then guides me into his lap, holding me once more.

“I’m sorry,” I breathe.

“Stop,” he says, kissing my forehead. “It’s me who should be sorry.”

“I don’t have to see him anymore if it’s going to hurt you. Gavin,” I clarify. “I care about him, but I care about you more.”

“I’m not threatened by him.”

I lean back at that, arching a brow.

“Contrary to how I acted,” Bear adds with a sheepish smirk. “I was wrong. I trust you, and while I hate that Gavin ever got the pleasure of being with you, I know you’re mine now, and I also know he’s an important friend to you. I’m sorry I put you in that position and acted like a child.”

My brows fold together, and I shake my head in wonder. “You’ve really grown a lot in the time I’ve known you, Clinton Pennington.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve had a few badass women in my life to slap me into shape along the way.”

I chuckle at that, and then with those apologies still dancing in our eyes, Clinton slides his palm along my cheek to frame my neck, and I lean into the touch on a content sigh.

Home.

The word flitters through me like a warm wind, and I blink my eyes open, smiling as I realize it’s not being here in this condo that makes me feel this way.

It’s being with him.

“I’ve missed you,” Clinton croaks.

I nod, leaning in to kiss him, and he wraps his arms around me even tighter.

“I have some news,” he says.

“I do, too.”

“You first.”

I shake my head. “I’d rather hear yours. Especially if it’s good, because mine is not.”

That makes him frown, but I smooth my thumb over the line between his brows.

“I’m okay. But you first,” I say again.

He sighs, and I know he wants to argue, but he refrains. Sitting up a little straighter, he covers my hand with his, fingers trailing the skin of my palm. “I don’t think there’s any slow and easy way to say this, so I’ll just get to the point.” His eyes meet mine. “I quit my job.”

My eyebrows shoot into my hairline.

“Well,” I say. “That wasn’t what I was expecting.”

“Trust me — I didn’t expect it either. But I had a sort of… I don’t know. Awakening, maybe? While you were gone, and over the last couple of weeks that we’ve been apart. I’ve had a lot of time to think, and when I wasn’t mulling over how stupid I was to pick a fight with you over Gavin—”

“You’re not stupid.”

“—I was thinking over what comes next. For me. For us,” he adds, bringing my knuckles to his lips. A gentle kiss, and then he holds them there, his eyes on mine. “I went to the bank today and applied for a small business loan.”

My jaw drops. “Oh, my God, Bear.”

“And I got approved.”

That makes me jump off the couch. “Oh, my God!” The smile that splits my face is so big, so wide that it hurts a little as I yank Clinton off the couch and make him jump around with me. He laughs and picks me up with a spin, and when my feet are on the ground again, I slug him in the arm.