I blink. “That’s the fastest apology known to man.”
“I practised it.”
“Did Jade help you?”
“You f*****g know it.”
That makes me laugh again. He smiles briefly, but it disappears almost immediately.
“I’m serious, Zara.”
“I know.”
“I was worried about you, and I turned into an overbearing, sexist asshole.”
My eyebrows rise. “Sexist?”
“Maybe not intentionally.”
“Comforting.”
“But I did the big-brother thing where I decided I knew better because I’m bigger and louder and have testicles.”
I choke on a laugh. “That’s your formal explanation?”
“It’s the best I’ve got.” His expression softens. “I’m really sorry.”
The words land hard and deep, because they’re not offered to make my anger disappear. They show me that Mayhem really, truly understands. He gets it.
“I’m sorry I talked ov
