“Oh, don’t you worry, I’m taking her out when I see her,” she warned, and Markus scoffed.

“Yeah, yeah, you aren’t doing anything,” he reminded her, and she gave him a look that said otherwise. Ignoring that, he looked back at his hands. “I mean, I don’t remember any of it, so there was no trauma. But shouldn’t I feel more?”

“I can’t tell you how to feel, Markus. It’s you. You know how to feel.”

He nodded. “Yeah.” Leaning on his legs, he dug his elbows into his thighs as he held her gaze. “I’m mad and violated and worried. And really worried about Mekena.”

She smiled tentatively, patting Dawson’s back now. “I can imagine. So she heard the whole thing?”

“I think so.”

“Man, that sucks to realize that not only did your boyfriend not really cheat on you, but your sister basically raped him.”

“And had no remorse.”

“’Cause she’s a whore,” Baylor said, shaking her head ruefully.

“Yeah,” he agreed, leaning back in his chair. He wanted to take a shower. He had already taken one that morning, but he still felt dirty. He wondered if that feeling would go away. Or if that was just one of the repercussions of what had happened. “Do you think I should go to counseling?”

Meeting his gaze, Baylor smiled. “I do.”

“Yeah.”

“You may not feel everything now, but you will, and if I’m not there, at least they will be. I’d go to Wren Lemiere. She was wonderful, and I think she’s still working for the Assassins. She travels with the team and everything. Always someone to talk to.”

Markus nodded. “Okay, I’ll make an appointment Monday.”

“You don’t have to, you can walk right in. I think it would be good for you. And if anything, what can it hurt, you know?”

“Yeah,” he agreed, wringing his fingers together. Even with all the emotions he was feeling, he couldn’t shake the worry for Mekena. “Should I call her?”

“Call who? Skylar?”

He laughed. “Fuck no. Mekena.”

“Why?”

“To check on her.”

Baylor shrugged. “Maybe just text her? No telling what is going on over there.”

He hesitated. “What if she doesn’t answer?”

“Then she’s busy. I don’t know, Markus. I mean, this is a lot, not only for you, but for her. Mekena said she thought you did it because she wasn’t good enough for you. That’s a lot to shake off, you know?”

“Yeah,” he said as he reached for his phone. But then he realized he didn’t have her number, that she had changed it. Clicking on Avery’s name, he typed out a quick message.

Markus: Hey, have you talked to Mekena?

Avery: Since?

Markus: Since the blowout in her front yard that I know you know about because your husband has a huge mouth.

Avery: Yes, and you’re right, he does. :P

Markus: I know. Anyway, is she okay?

Avery: I mean, she’s as okay as she can be. She’s upset.

Markus: Should I call her?

Avery: When I say she’s upset, she’s crying and shit. She wouldn’t want you to hear that.

Markus: Oh. Okay.

Avery: Yeah, but she’ll be at the rehearsal tonight.

Markus: Yeah, I guess I’ll wait.

Avery: Cool.

Markus: Cool.

But it wasn’t cool. He didn’t like that she was crying. He didn’t want to cause her any more pain. He probably shouldn’t have stopped, but seeing Skylar’s car and their house, he knew he had to. He had to get it off his chest, and while he was ultimately glad he had, he wished Mekena hadn’t been there. He hadn’t even seen her car, nothing to indicate that she would have been there, but she was and she heard everything.

Fuck.

Covering his face, he let out a long breath. When a hand cupped his shoulder, he chuckled but with no humor. “She’s crying and upset, and I just want to make it better. I don’t want her to hurt over me anymore.”

“I know.”

“I hate this, Bay, I do. I hate Skylar, I hate her with everything in me.”

“I know.”

Looking up at his best friend, he shrugged. “I want Mekena back.”

“I know you do.”

“Am I insane for that? To think she’d take me back after everything that has happened?”

Baylor smiled. “I wouldn’t.”

“’Cause you’re mean,” he teased and she laughed.

“And I’m too proud. But Mekena isn’t me, so I don’t know.”

What if Mekena was too proud? After all the pain this had caused her, did he deserve her? Maybe she should just move on, find someone who wouldn’t be a constant reminder of all that happened. But that just felt so wrong. They belonged together. This last two years had been shit, and he knew it was because he couldn’t hear her voice. See her smile or touch her butt. He loved her butt. He loved her. At first, he’d just wanted to apologize, get some closure. But now, he wanted it all. He wanted her; he just wasn’t sure if that was still possible.

“But then, I don’t know what y’all’s fate is. Fate does its own thing, and everyone else just has to hold on, do what it says,” she added and Markus smiled, nodding his head.

“I love her, Baylor.”

“Duh,” she teased, smacking his leg. “And she loves you. But let’s be honest, this is insane and fucking wrong. She probably blames herself because it’s her sister, and I don’t know… That’s a lot.”

“You’re right.”

“But I can’t predict the future, and if you want to try, I won’t stop you. I just want you to be happy.”

Meeting her gaze, he smiled as he reached out, squeezing her hand. “I want that too.”

“And if she’s the one, then pray God it works out because sulky Markus is no fun,” she teased and he laughed.

“Agreed.”

While he knew Baylor was right, he still had no clue what would happen.

But then, that was life. Full of surprises.

“So I’m walking out first, with my wife,” Jude said, and Markus scoffed as he bounced Dawson against his chest. He was on baby duty again.