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I didn’t want to argue with her, but she wasn’t staying in this apartht I noticed her easel in the corner of the room, so I walked over to it and stared at the canvas that sat upon it, trying to get up the nerve to say what I needed to say

"I don’t think you should be alone tonight after the news you received, andyou weren’t alone"

Her attitude instantly changed, and she toldon the easel was an unfinished painting of the bride and grooh it sat unfinished, the scene beforeI could look at the couple in the painting and see their happiness The thing I’ve noticed about Ellery’s paintings is that she kno to capture the present emotion of her subjects I wondered what a portrait of me would look like if she painted one

As Ellery returned, I s, and we headed out the door

She sat in the limo next me and stared out theIShe turned and looked atfor me, Connor," she softly spoke

I putcan wait" She laid her on ood to have her there

We arrived at the penthouse, and I took her bag up to the guest roo at the black and white photographs that were hanging on the wall

When I told her I took them, she seemed very surprised She proceeded to ask me if I decorated the penthouse I could tell the more we talked, the better she felt I told her about uess it’s because I’ve never talked about anything or anyone in my personal life I headed over to the bar

"Drink?" I asked her

"Shot of Jack, please," she said My eyes widened as I looked at her

"Are you sure?" I asked in disbelief

"Does that surprise you?" she laughed

I reached for a shot glass as she made herself comfortable on the bar stool "It doesn’t, well, maybe it does; I just don’t know any woht"

"You do now," she said as she threw back the shot I was in awe of this girl, this wolass down on the bar and cocked her head

"I thought you didn’t do sleepovers, Mr Black?"

I looked at her and grinned, "I don’t, Miss Lane I never have, but tonight I made an exception for a friend because I felt she shouldn’t be alone"

I poured another shot of whiskey and held up the glass "Another shot?" I asked

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" she smiled seductively

Damn that smile I put my hand in rinned She threw back the second shot and sat down on the couch She looked worried I sat down next to her with lass of scotch and asked her if she was ok She looked up at elic blue eyes and s about how I can visit an"

"When was the last tio I stopped by for a visit the day before Kyle and I ry I’ the bastard, because if he wouldn’t have left, then I never would have ht into my eyes and spoke about how she wants to be cremated when she dies I narrowedlike that It was soo on about how she doesn’t want people to ood ti to irritate me with all this talk about death I told her to stop because she was talking as if she was going to die tohtened , and that’s why I believe that nothing lasts forever"

I got up fro her up

"Ok, I think Mr Daniel’s has gotten to you Let’s get so"

I led her upstairs and showed her to the guest rooht, Elle, sleep well," I spoke as I walked out of the room and down the hall to my bedroom

I took offabout Ellery and how serious she was about her own death How could she think of such things? The ht about it, the more it made sense; death has always been a part of her life I tossed and turned I tried to get coot out of bed and sloalked down the hall toward her room I stood outside the door and listened; there was silence I’m sure the shots of Jack helped her sleep I an as I didn’t want her going alone

The next , I showered and headed to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee I called the bakery down the street and had a dozen bagels delivered I wanted toto eat when she woke up I sat down at the table and opened s to reschedule for when I ca into the kitchen I looked at her, and a pants that hugged her hps and ass perfectly and a pink tank top that ay too sexy on her She had her hair up in a high ponytail Da at her I needed to get an

"Good , Ellery, I hope you slept well," I smiled

She walked over and poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down across froels over there; please have one"

She politely declined I sighed and told her she had to eat

"I never eat when I first get up, but don’t worry, dad, I’ll have one in a little bit," she said in a cocky way