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But my feet took me past the family lounge on my way out.

Ellie stood inside, still wearing my hoodie, talking to Simone and Haley. Her face looked worried. That made everything worse. She spotted me through the doorway and came out into the hallway.

“Brashe. Hey.” Her voice was soft. Careful. Like I might break.

That made me angry, though at myself, the situation, and the fact that she had to be careful with me because I was fragile.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine.” The words came out without inflection.

“You don’t look fine.”

“I said I’m fine.”

She stepped closer, her hand reaching for my arm.

I stepped back.

Her hand dropped. I watched it fall, watched her fingers curl into her palm, clinging to something that was already gone. “Whatever you’re about to do, don’t.”

But I was already doing it.

The words were forming, and I couldn’t stop them even though I knew they’d destroy everything.

“I appreciate everything you did,” I said. “Getting me back on the ice. That’s your job, right?”

She stilled. “My job.”

“Yeah. You’re great at it. Really great. I’m just…” I gestured vaguely at myself, at the arena, and the space between us that was growing the more I kept talking. “I’m the problem. Not you. You did everything right.”

“Stop. Please stop.” Her voice went tight. “That’s not what this is.”

“Isn’t it? You’re here because you’re supposed to make sure I don’t break again.”

“That’s not fair.”

“None of this is fair.”

Footsteps echoed down the hallway. Crim appeared, his gaze moving between us, his expression shifting from confusion to anger.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Crim’s voice came low, dangerous.

“Nothing. I’m just being realistic.”

“You were right, then.” Crim’s words came out hollow. “You are too damaged for her.”

Ellie’s breath caught. “Even my brother thinks I can’t handle my own life.” The hurt in her voice cracked me wide open. “Neither of you gets to decide what I can and can’t handle. I chose to be here. I chose to wear this.” She tugged at the hoodie, her hands shaking. “But I’m not going to stand here and let you make me feel like I’m nothing because you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared.”

“You’re pushing me away before I can leave. I know how this works. I’ve been here before. But here’s the thing, Brashe. I wasn’t going to leave.”

She pulled the hoodie off in one motion, holding it out to me. “Here. You can have this back.”

I couldn’t make myself take it.

“No?” Her laugh sounded bitter. “Alright then.”