Later, when the rush finally dies down, I slam the office door shut and let the silence hit me like a freight train.
It’s the first real quiet I’ve had since I woke up next to Josie, and I hate how much I needed it.
I sink into the chair behind the desk, elbows on my knees, hands gripping my hair like I can root the chaos out by force.
This isn’t what I wanted.
This isn’t why I built The Marrow.
I left that other life behind for a reason. The cameras, the noise, the constant performative bullshit. It chewed me up for a decade, and I barely crawled out. And now it’s leaking in again, through the cracks, through one damn picture.
I should’ve shut it down faster.
I should’ve protected Josie better.
The memory of her face when she slipped out earlier flashes in my mind again. She didn’t say a word, but her eyes did. All that brightness, gone. Like the light dimmed right in front of me.
Because of me.
There’s a knock.
I don’t answer.
The door creaks open anyway.
Jace.
He steps inside, grinning like an idiot, sunglasses pushed up on his head, phone in hand. He looks around like he’s impressed. “Place is blowing up, man. You seeing these numbers? Views are insane. You’re viral on like six platforms.NowSilver Peak is fun!”
I look up slowly. “What thehelldid you post?”
He raises a brow. “Just the stuff from the other day. You, doing your thing. The fans love it. I didn’t think it’d go that crazy.”
I stand up.
Jace steps back a little.
“You didn’tthink. That’s the problem.” I shake my head. “You didn’t care what it would do to this place.”
He scoffs. “Come on, man. I put you back on the map.”
“I didn’t want to beon the map.”
His eyes narrow. “Bullshit. You miss it. You miss being seen. The control. The high. Don’t act like you hated it all.”
“I did hate it all,” I snap. “And I worked my ass off to build something real here. Something quiet. Safe. And now it’s a circus. You turned it into a fucking brand.”
He crosses his arms. “You think I did this forme? I was trying to help. You’re out here hiding in the woods like you’re done with the world. People still care, Knox. They still want to see you win.”
“I don’t care if they do.” I step closer. “You don’t get it. I’m not trying to be anyone’sredemption arc. I only wanted a kitchen and a quiet life. I wanted…”
Her.
I bite it back.
He sees it anyway. “This is about Josie?”
“It’s about all of it.”
