Juniper POV
I never thought I’d see Tristan Hale look small.
His face was pale, eyes glassy, the bruise on his jaw fresh and swelling near his temple. He looked nothing like the arrogant force of nature who had pinned me against a door and kissed me until my knees forgot how to work.
He looked… human.
And that scared me more than anything.
“Sit down,” I said before he could fully drop his bag.
He tried to smirk, but it came out crooked. “I’m fine, Hayes.”
“You’re not. You look like you’re about to fall over. Sit.”
He didn’t argue. That alone told me how bad it was. He shuffled to the couch and lowered himself carefully, like every movement hurt. I watched him for a second, heart doing something complicated in my chest.
I went to the kitchen first. Grabbed a clean dish towel, fill
