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His eyes meet mine as confusion settles on his face. “Why?”

“Because of everything that’s happened between us. Because of everything I said to you. I thought you would hate me forever. It’s what I wanted.”

“I could never hate you.”

“I would hate me,” I whisper.

His hands move to my back, pulling me into his chest. “Know what I hate? I hate what he’s done to you. I hate what he took away from us, and most of all, I hate that you’re still letting him.”

God, I hate it, too.

“It’s time.”

“I know.” I agree, because even though I don’t deserve him, I need him in order to survive this.