Chapter 32

“You were existing and living on the reckless side. I get it. I’ve been down that route and more, so have Jake and Leila. Look at us and how much shit we put our parents through at our worst. We don’t want that for you. This isn’t you; it never has been. You’re so much more than that.” He stands behind me, warmed by the hands he rests on my shoulders as he leans into me. His breath on the back of my hair. I twitch at his touch, that inner deep hurt, anger, instinctively moving to reject him, but I stay put. Some tiny part of me still wants him close, even if my self-defensive side has kicked in. “If you kept going the way you were, I’m scared about where you would have ended up. Sophs, the city is dangerous, and you have so much to learn. You’re naïve at the best of times, oblivious to how many stupid situations you put yourself in, and it doesn’t bear thinking about how many close calls you’ve had already.” He turns me back to him with a slow even movement. The stubborn lift of my