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I strain over his shoulder, but the crowd has swallowed her whole. “Fuck.”

“What is it?”

“I need five minutes.”

“You don’t have five minutes.”

I groan, reluctantly allowing Jason to steer me away.

We walk in silence for a minute before he clears his throat. “I got that paperwork sorted this morning.”

My stomach drops. “What paperwork?”

“The last NDA, Brianna Wildblood hadn’t signed yet.”

My legs forget how to work as my boots firmly plant themselves on the spot. Oh fuck. My eyes cut straight through him like I can turn back time as realisation crashes into me—the look on Bri's face, the timing, her running from me.

"Shit."

“What?” Confusion pulls at Jasons brow. “What do you mean?”

I drag a hand through my hair. “Please tell me you at least explained it.”

“It’s an NDA. I said it was standard.”

“Oh, brilliant. Just fucking perfect.”

“Have I missed something?”

Glaring at him, I spit out the truth. “You had her sign it after we spent last night together.”

Jason’s eyes widen. “Oh. Oh shit.”

“Exactly,” I sigh.

Understanding dawns on his face. “She thinks—”

“Probably.” I laugh but it’s entirely humourless. “Your timing was spectacular.”

“In my defence—”

“No, honestly, don’t. I know you didn't know but…”

Jason winces. “Do you need me to fix it?”

Images of Bri flash through my mind—the way she guards herself against the world, how she values honesty and actions over words, especially after everything she’s been through. She was taught love is conditional, I know her brain is torturing right now thinking I’m like every other person who hurt her.

I shake my head. “No.”

“You sure?”

“Words alone won’t fix this.”

“What will?”

“I don’t know yet.” But I’ll figure it out. I have to.

We reach the photoshoot area; the rest of the cast are already there and a huge queue of convention guests snakes around the room just outside. Naithan spots me first. “Ah, the wanderer returns!”