“I think sleep will do you good. You look wiped out. We can talk whenever you want. I’m not going anywhere.” Alexi strays a little closer, but it’s too much. I have so much going on in my head and under my skin that I move away to breathe. I no doubt have a million more questions to get out of my head before I can stand and be okay with him again, but for now, I’m prickling with the need to be alone. I feel like, right now, I don’t know him anymore.

The man of the last ...