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Unspoken Words

(Cash's POV)

Cash couldn't bring himself to walk back into Mav's room. He stood outside the door, his hand hovering over the doorknob, but he just... couldn't.

The idea of facing Alle after everything that had happened felt suffocating. He'd always known things weren't simple between them, but it felt different now. She had chosen Mav.

He wasn't mad at her. He wasn't even angry with Mav. It was the situation—how everything seemed to slip through his fingers when he wasn't paying attention.

"Cash?"

He spun around, startled, to find Alle standing there. She was looking at him with soft eyes, like she wasn't sure what to say, what to do.

"I... I need to talk to you," she said quietly.

Cash ran a hand through his hair and nodded. "Yeah, okay." He stepped back, letting her walk into the hallway with him.

"You should be with Mav," Cash said, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I will, but..." She paused, clearly unsure of herself. "I didn't want to hurt you, Cash. I never wanted that."

Cash's throat tightened. "It's fine, Alle." He tried to smile, but it felt forced. "I get it. Really."

But the words didn't come out the way he'd intended.