And Duke . . . was getting used to people being able to feel two strong emotions about him at the same time.

(Maybe if folks growing up had been better at showing them, he might have learned that much earlier.)

"I wish I could say we -- I was done with it all. But." Duke stopped, swallowing against the taste of copper in the back of his mouth. "I don't think Haven will ever be 'done' with me. Not until. . . ."

Until the thing all three of them were working so hard to avoid.