“Nice? Poor Murphy has been an absolute shell of himself because”—she poked an accusing finger at Remus—“you left him. No, he is not okay, Remus Mazarin, so what are you going to do about it?”
Remus glanced at El, who shrugged and gave him an ‘I tried to help you’ look.
“I’m going to fix it,” he replied, somewhat lamely. “I know I f****d up. I had my reasons for leaving but still…”
“Murphy doesn’t much care for your reasons, Remy,” Trish said, softer, gentler. “He needed you and you left him.”
“I know. I—”
“Remy?”
Remus closed his eyes, thrilling at the sound of Murphy’s voice. He’d do anything to fix what he’d broken between them. “Murphy,” he sighed as he spun to face his lover.
Murphy looked shattered. Ink-black stains marred the fragile skin beneath his tired eyes, his face appe
