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I took one look at thean to fill o?" Mu as she took in lare to Braden and Adaain because of these two idiots"

"Good," Braden responded flatly "You’re too young to be dating"

Mureed "And look at what she’s wearing"

"There’s nothing wrong hat she’s wearing She’s got tights on"

"She’s fifteen," Braden argued "She’s got plenty of tio on dates She should concentrate on school"

"Oh you sound like an old fart, Braden"

"I can’t believe your attitude, Elodie," Adaht you’d be more careful about this stuff"

"Careful," Muer had tirow and seethe, and the huuy at our school had asked me out on a date and my brother and his best friend had ruined it for me "I liked hie that halted their conversation They all looked at me and a tear slipped down my cheek as I said, "I really liked hi with the pressure ofBraden calling s ed my bedroo my face in my pillow as I cried into it

I heard the knock over the sound of rowl, "Go away"

I tucked my head back into the pillow and waited

Since I kne tenacious Adanored my command I heard my door open and the creaks of the floor as he walked over to the bed The bed dipped on ized, his voice deep with sincerity "Sweetheart, I’ even deeper when it occurred to me this was the first time Adam had ever hurt me

"Els"

I turned nored the worried look on his young, gorgeous face and told hih his hair, turning more fully toward me "Look, I feel like shit, Els I didn’t ht Neither did Braden"

"Oh I’m sure when you threatened sensory deprivation you had no intention of ruining my chances with Sae It’s like arguing with a grooroo to piss them off"

His mouth twitched at my response and he shook his head "Jesus," he repeated

After a ain His expression was no longer amused In fact he looked deadly serious "If this kid duh to deal with some familial concern, then he’s not the kind of boy you want to be with"

The word "familial" pushed that little button inside of lare was colder than any that had come before it because it made him stiffen with surprise "You’re notlike it"

I felt a slash of pain across uilt instantlyme want to cry even more "I know that, Ellie"

Our eyes met and held, and my awareness of him caused my skin to flush "Do you?" I aze and he stood up, looking uncomfortable "I’ll leave you alone for a bit I just wanted you to knoould never intentionally hurt you"

When I didn’t say anything, Ada ht outside it "She okay?"

"She’s pissed off Let’s just leave her alone for a while"