Duke closed his eyes. Took a long breath. Braced himself to feel small.

“I keep thinking —“ His throat locked down. He swallowed and forced himself to say it, even as his voice cracked. “‘How is that not enough.’”

A small shudder ran through him as he lost the battle not to keep couching his feelings in excuses or denials.

“Like I said: it’s stupid. Like she’d stay on the island because I haven’t earned her or something.”