Chapter 261: Don’t Abandon Me, Part 2

"Honestly?" Wyatt asked, brow raised. "No. He's a wreck, Chloe."

I closed my eyes and focused on breathing so I wouldn't be tempted to ask anymore questions. Deep down, I knew he wasn't okay, but part of me had hoped Wyatt would lie to me so I could - selfishly - appease the guilt tearing through me.

"He's doing everything he can to not show it, though," Wyatt said. "Because he knows that will only hurt you, and that's the last thing he wants to do."

Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked my lids open.

"He understands the choice you made." He laughed without humor and shook his head. "He admitted to me that Trent was the better guy for you, but that doesn't make it hurt any less."

"I know," I whispered. "I never wanted to hurt Jax."

"He knows that," Wyatt said. "We all do."

I gave him a grateful smile. "I'm trying not to make this harder for him, but we're still bonded and - "