“I never meant to hurt her,” James says quietly, something like genuine regret in his words. “No one ever does,” I reply, the words bitter on my tongue. “I fucked up,” he says finally. “I know I did. And I’m going to make it up to her.” Something in his tone has me studying him more carefully. This isn’t the usual James—smooth, savvy, always in control. There’s a rawness to him I rarely see. “I like her,” he continues, still facing away from us. “Like a fucking lot.” He turns around, meeting first my stare, then Archer’s. “And I know you two do, too. It’s growing on you both, but I’m already
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