(Avery)
I walked away with the boys, but I could still feel Serena staring at me. My hands itched to curl into fists, but I kept them loose at my sides. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of knowing she still got under my skin. She didn’t matter anymore, even if she thought she did.
Elias glanced at me as we moved through the front hall. “You okay?” he asked, his voice softer than before, almost cautious.
I nodded. “I’m fine.”
Luca raised a brow, like he didn’t believe me for a second. Jackson just muttered something under his breath that I didn’t catch. Their eyes stayed on me, watching too closely, but instead of shrinking under the weight of their concern, I found myself… grateful. It was strange, realizing I didn’t have to carry everything alone anymore. A part of me was g
