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"We need to go It’s a long drive back horabbed hold of Amanda’s arm "Please, let me explain about Bobby"

"No need I really don’t care what he does or who he’s with I just hope you knohat you’re getting into"

"He’s changed," said Vicky

Ahed It was a bleak, hollow sound "Weren’t you the one who told e?"

"He’s different now I swear it You should give him a chance"

Amanda pulled her arm free and hurried around to the driver’s side "No, thank you And for your sake, I hope you’re right"

"Wait Just stay a few minutes"

Aue about this, too devastated to try It had clearly been ato repeat

She slid the key into the ignition, and thankfully, her car started on the first try

It was the best thing that had happened to her since the night Rachel was born

Isabelle woke up reaching for Grant It wasn’t until the sleep had faded from her mind that she realized he wouldn’t be there

Her hand fell back to the covers, and she let out a low groan of regret She never should have let him in her bed In her body

And now, not only did she have to figure out how to best take care of Everett today, she had to do it alone If Grant caain and let him work his way deeper into her life--so deep she’d never find a way to get by when he left

He was here to protect her from a killer, but she had to be the one to protect her heart fro Get through the pain today would bring

She had to start planning Everett’s funeral, deal with getting his body released for burial There was no one else to do it

She had no idea what kind of funeral he’d want So expensive He hated wasting money Not that he needed to worry about that anyrief pressed down on her, holding her to the bed and driving the breath froone He wasn’t co back

Her bedroom door opened quietly, and Grant slipped in

Isabelle wiped away the sheen of tears wetting her cheeks before he could see

She pushed herself to a sitting position, stifling a wince when her soretossed around in the car yesterday hadn’t done her poor body h she was pretty sure the soreness of the hs had a lot more to do with Grant than with her accident

"I brought you so"

"Thanks" She took the pills and sipped her tea, keeping her head down, hoping he couldn’t see that she’d been crying in the di she wanted fro her "How are you feeling?"

"A little stiff, but I’ll be fine I should probably gethe’d leave

"It’s Saturday You should rest and let your body recover"

"I’m just a little sore Besides, I have to find out what to do for Everett today"

"I’ll help you"

He reached for her hand, but she wrapped it around her tea before he could touch her "No, thanks I’d rather do it on my own"

"You don’t have a car"

"I’ll borrow Dale’s"

"He’s at his study group"

"So, I’ll go when he gets back"

"You’d be safer if I ith you"

Maybe her body, but not her peace of ht, leaning closer to her Isabelle glanced up and wished she hadn’t His golden eyes glittered with frustration and hisme away?"

"I’m not I’d just rather do this alone"

He slid his thu away tears froet to cry when you lose a friend It’s in the manual"

"What manual?"

"The Top Ten Reasons Chicks Get to Cryto s worse Every time he eet to her, itaway