“The problem is, it would never have been only me.” No matter how much he cares for me, his addiction would have come between us. As it is, he was having s*x with my sister from the day I came back to Hardwick. His lips pull taut in a remorseful frown. “They told you, didn’t they?” I nod. He breathes deeply, eyes falling to the ground between us. “I suppose you would have found out eventually.” The defeat in his ragged words is heartbreaking. I want to wrap my arms around him and reassure him that everything will be okay, but that would be a lie. With the challenges he’s facing, there are no guarantees, so I keep my hands and my words to myself. Eventually, he lifts his gaze back to mine, a new earnest conviction in those mocha depths. “I will make an effort, though. I want you to know tha
