24
AIDEN
I held my breath, my eyes clenched shut where I stood with my ear pressed to Jed’s bedroom door.
Was I worth it? Was I enough?
Please, Jed.
I gritted my teeth against the tightness in my throat and the sting in my eyes as my insides shredded. He’d said there was no elsewhere, no other person, but…
Imagining his turmoil from being confronted by his mom turned me inside out, even though she’d been gentle, her words way more forgiving than I’d expected.
My heart ached for him even as my self-esteem curled in on itself, ready to die.
I clung to the memory of his bright smile, the satiated bliss in his dark eyes.
Fuck, just put me out of my misery already, Jed. I can’t handle this s**t.
“Yes,” he finally answered. “He’s more than worth it, Mom.” Jed’s voice broke on a sob, an
