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For the hundredth tihts last winter when all I wanted was for Graham to show up at my door and say, "You’re important to me" Now he’d done that But not in the way that I’d once hoped for

"You know," I said, clearing my throat "You used to hide too, okay? So it’s not like you can really give et irritated that I’d poke his old wound But he didn’t Instead, I received an even tighter hug "Aw, Bella I know that And it sucked I wasted so ht Years, okay? But you’re smarter than that"

"I used to be," I mumbled

Graham cleared his throat "Well, I had Rikker to showto do that for you?"

Well, ouch Because I had no clue "I need a little et"

"You aren’t," he argued "And the new uard tape instead of hockey tape"

"What?" I yelped "Who could mix that up?"

Graham chuckled "See? The team misses you Come and show your face"

"Another ti s Because those were potent

Sensing defeat, Grahae yourto eat dinner?"

"Of course I a in the direction of Lianne’s rooarded me seriously

I held up a hand, like an oath-taker on the witness stand "Promise"

He stepped in to kiss ht, Bells"

"G’night Graham" I used to say that ere both naked in his bed