ALEX.
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The words were there, crowding my chest and clawing at my throat, but none of them felt right. None of them felt strong enough to explain this. To explain how Derek had reappeared in my life like a curse I thought I had broken. To explain why he was suddenly here, proposing, standing across from Niko like he had every right to exist in my present.
I hadn’t thought Derek would try this hard to get me back, not after everything. Not after I had walked away because of his cheating. Not after the lies. The manipulation. The nights I had cried myself to sleep wondering why I wasn’t enough.
I stared at Niko, my lips trembling.
“Alex?” he asked quietly. “What the hell was that?”
I swallowed.
“I—” My voice failed me again.
Something sh
