He licks his lips. “It’s just...it’s hard for me to wrap my head around it. I didn’t know any different growing up. How can you be traumatized from something when it’s all you’ve ever known?”

Jesus.

Eyes burning—no doubt red around the edges—I force a smile. “Well, that’s why you got the bougee diagnosis.”

He laughs wetly.

“Just because you didn’t know any different, doesn’t mean it was right,” I tell him after a moment.

He takes a deep breath. “I know, it’s just...”

“Easier to pretend?”

The dejection swimming in his hazel eyes slices me right fucking open. “I hate him. I think I’ve always hated him, but it’s different now.”

I nod, understanding what he means, even if I can’t completely relate. “Therapy makes it real.”

He doesn’t say anything, just rolls away from me to lay on his back.

Without his body heat pressed all over me, a chill crawls over my skin, drawing my attention to the fact we’re still buck naked and covered in my dried cum.

Christ. This is probably the last scenario I expected when I woke up this morning. But despite the heavy unknown permeating the air, and the horrors I learned today, I’m exactly where I want to be.

He’s given me more today than I ever fucking expected. More than I even let myself hope for.

“I’ve never told anyone before about what my dad did to me that summer.”

Slowly, I roll my head to face him. His eyes seem to be fixated on a crack in the ceiling. “Not even Dr. Wells?”

His jaw ticks, and he shakes his head.

“Waylon.” I sigh.

“I don’t want it to be real, okay?” he rushes out.

My eyes burn. It already is. It already fucking is, and there’s no changing that.

“Have you even talked about your sexuality at all? Any of this?” Me?

His face hardens. Another small shake of his head.

Working my jaw, I turn my head to join him in staring up at the ceiling.

It’s silent, save for our heavy breathing.

“You deserve better,” he says simply. As if it’s nothing.

I stiffen, and I have to bite back the urge to argue—to tell him no, I do deserve you, I want you, only you.

“But I’m selfish.”

Wait. What?

I snap my head his way to find he’s already looking at me.