CHAPTER 34

She froze, glancing back at me with wide eyes. "Sir?

I didn't let her go, my hold tight but not hard. "Don't go," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, almost an entreaty. "Just. stay."

Millie's eyes widened in surprise. "Stay? Why? I need to call Jayjay."

I was at a loss for words for a moment.

I was the one who'd shut down the talk, who'd pushed her away.

But standing here now, I really wasn't prepared for any of this. Not yet.

 Maybe never.

 "I don't know," I said, the words escaping before I could censor myself. "I just. I need you to stay."

 Millie just stared at me, her face softening into something I had never quite seen before, something almost gentle.

She let out a small sigh, shaking her head as if she couldn't quite believe what she was doing. 

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