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Ryan: Be more specific, man. There are too many Hardys here.

Zayn: That’s why we, the Thomases, are special.

Zayn: Quality over quantity.

Kai: Fuck off, Thomas!

Sierra: Care to repeat that, Kai?

Thalia: What a fascinating conversation.

Thalia: Level: kindergarten.

Liam: Ahahaha.

Liam: You’re right, Thalia.

Liam: But also… fuck off, Zayn.

Nick: You’re a Hardy now, Sierra.

A quiet chuckle slips out of me as I take another slow sip of whiskey, letting my head fall back against the couch while my gaze drifts upward.

Of course Nick would say that. He never misses a chance to remind Sierra she’s his. Even through a screen, the possessiveness in his words carries through—raw, absolute, unshakable.

I’ve never understood it—how someone can get that consumed by another person. Why anyone would want that. To hand over that kind of control—over your peace, your focus, your entire state of mind.

It doesn’t make sense. How do you stay sharp, stay in control of your own life, when your emotions are tied so tightly to someone else? When your entire day can shift depending on whether the person you love smiles, or walks away?

The phone vibrates again, pulling me back.

Zayn: Here we go.

This time, I laugh out loud. Nick’s possessiveness always gets the same reaction from Sierra’s brothers, and at this point, it’s become their favorite form of entertainment.

Deep down, though, I know they’re at ease—knowing she’s loved, protected the way she should be.

I scroll further, watching the chaos unfold.

Sierra: I’ll always be a Thomas too, baby.

Nick: No.

Nick: You’ll always be mine.

Nick: A Hardy.

Theo: Does no one have anything better to do at this hour?

Chris: Apparently not.

Chris: Including you, since you’re here too.

Colt: You’re all very entertaining tonight.

Colt: And for the record, I never disappeared. You just couldn’t find me.

Colt: Big difference.