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It was the last solid shred of proof that the boy I’d once been no longer existed

I opened myat my side "Hey, this is Felicity She’s a waitress here, so no charge ’Kay?"

"Noel" The relief in her voice as she whirled to hi But daed the old heart muscle to watch her turn away from aze darted back to me briefly before she eyed hiuy," he explained "Apparently, he doesn’t have a name yet"

"Uh" Felicity’s eyebrows crinkled with confusion Again, she spared ht back to Noel "Okay Since when do we have a new bartender?"

"Since tonight What’re you doing here, anyway? Where’s Aspen?"

"Your wife decided I needed to drink my troubles away" Felicity rolled her eyes but chased it with a smile "She came in with me, except Mason waylaid her with some school questions so--oh! Here she is"

When a sed her close and pressed their cheeks together as she grinned at Noel

"Hey, you," Noel greeted, reaching for the neo kiss

As their aze strayed back to Felicity It was incredible how little she’d changed in six years There was a bit er sixteen, but other than that, even her hair was the sahtened with a need I hadn’t felt in quite a while I wanted to follow Noel’s lead and reach forher over the bar towith the need

I still couldn’t believe she was right fucking there

And I wasn’t touching her, wasn’t even talking to her

As if sensing an to look away, just as quickly, but then darted back with one ht I was a creeper for staring the way I was When she moved fractionally closer to Noel’s wo lips with Noel, the two pulled away

Glancing at ot these two You can get that group down there"

For a heartbeat, I couldn’t ht there, the one person ned my soul

But then reality crashed around er to her And I’d proave Noel a single nod and turned away frouys at the other end of the bar

I hu for You" under edspots I knew the path well by now I’d traveled it every day for the past teeks

Knox and I no longer met by "our" tree Noent to "our" dock at the strip pit Sometimes a I’d beco I swear, ainst Knox’s I hated it every ti job at a local dog food factory, and always had to leave to get ready for that, and Iwell, I didn’t want to risk causing any suspicion froh no one had noticed thy afternoon walks in the woods yet

Today, I dareda basket into the kitchen, I’d packed us an afternoon snack From all our conversations, I knew Knox loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, nacho chips, and apples the best, so I cra with two bottles of water and plates and napkins

When I heardthe kitchen, I dashed out the back door and streaked across the yard to the trees, panting by the ti behind it, I waited thirty seconds before peeking around the trunk to make sure no one had come outside to look for ed froh to realize no one was following ain rose

I was unable to stop grinning and actually murmur some of the lyrics aloud by the ti all ive a happy squeal when I realized I was the first to arrive "Yes!" I had some time to set up my surprise for him