Page 327 of Bad Prince

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That’s the problem.

“You don’t get to half-love people, Tristan,” she says.

Quiet.

Certain.

“You either choose… or you don’t.”

I stare at the floor.

At my hands.

At nothing.

“Yeah,” I say finally.

Low.

“Yeah,” Leo echoes. “Figure your shit out before you hurt someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

“Too late for that,” I mutter.

Jade exhales softly.

“Then stop making it worse.”

The line goes quiet.

“Get some sleep,” Leo adds. “You sound like hell.”

“I’m not sleeping,” I say.

“No kidding.”

We hang up.

And the silence that follows?

It’s louder than anything.

I sit there for a minute.

Two.

Maybe more.

Then I stand.

Because I can’t sit still.

Not with this in my head.

Not with this in my chest.

I grab a ball on my way out.

Head to the court.

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