Mushed chocolate mint energy bar glooped through my fingers where I'd squeezed it too hard. I scowled at it. Way to go, self.

Drio caught my wrist and hauled me back to the kitchen. He cleaned off my hand with a rag, scrubbing surprisingly gently given his angry silence, then pitched it in the sink. "I finally sort my shit out and you're telling me I'm wrong because you don't think you deserve to be loved, is that it?"

I winced. "It's not that. I just don't want to get ...