“Please stop apologizing.” I fall against him, wrapping my arms around his middle, and he lands on his ass under my weight, dragging in a deep breath. Squeezing my eyes closed again, I press my fist against my lips so that he doesn’t hear me cry.

I didn’t understand why he would’ve taken such drastic measures to make sure he didn’t have kids or why he never had a relationship, but now I get it. What he went through… the trauma of that experience altered not just his life, but him as a person—and at thirteen, an age when he was just figuring out who he was. On top of that, he lost his mom and his dad, both in tragic ways. Why would anyone believe in love, or really anything good, after going through that?

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and his hold on me gets tighter.

“Don’t be. I was better off where I ended up.”

Because he ended up with Clay, Tucker, and Miles—his family who he chose and who chose him in return. The guys who have been in his life since he was thirteen and probably have backstories as tragic as his. I’m glad he had them and that they all had each other.

And even though our relationship will likely never be traditional in any sense of the word, I have a feeling that if we keep building on our friendship, the family we are creating will be just as strong as the one he has with his brothers, and I honestly can’t ask for anything more than that.

CHAPTER 13

Dayton

With the TV on low and the only light coming in from the windows behind me, I drag my eyes off the papers in my hand and look down toward the end of the couch at Franny. Studying her soft features and her blonde hair that is a mess of waves spread out behind her on the throw pillow she tucked under her head, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful sight in my life.

Watching her sleep is slowly becoming my favorite pastime, or maybe it’s just being around her, that is. I feel oddly at ease when she’s close, and way more centered than I normally do. Even if we’re just watching TV or hanging out, there is no outside noise trying to intrude. My mind is just quiet. I’ve never had that with anyone, not even my brothers.