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As much as Isabelle wanted Grant to stay, she kneouldn’t And when he left, he’d feel guilty for walking away from the kids and the problems they had yet to face She didn’t want that for him She loved him and wanted hih to respect his choices Because of that, she had to ask hier could

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Grant heard Isabelle’s light footsteps behind hilass from the cupboard and asked her, "Want one?"

"Sure"

He filled glasses with ice and poured them both a soda

"We need to talk," she told him

Conversations that started with that phrase never ell He let out a sh and sat down at the table "I’s harder on Rachel"

"She’s talking nohich is better than before It will s easier on her when she sees the therapist tomorrow"

He pushed her soda across the table, being careful not to touch her hand He wanted to touch her so badly--to pull her into his arms and hold her If he touched her even a little and felt her soft skin against his, his resolve would snap He’d pull her against hih he’d only mean to comfort her, he’d want more

Grant didn’t want to be selfish Not with Isabelle He’d be a good boy and keep his distance

"Okay, then why do I feel like I’ asked to stay after class?" he asked

Isabelle gripped her glass hard and stared at the table "I think it’s tie rocked hi his body tense up She wanted hiht, and she still wanted him to leave?

Grant’s jaw clenched until he could swear he heard teeth crack It took him a moment to speak, but when he did, his words were clipped "You still need me You can’t do this all by yourself"

"I can take care of two kids by myself Wo to stay here soon Then you’ll have two kids--both of whoht now--and a wo to try to work and do all that, too?"

"I’ to take some time off work to take care of her And Keith offered to come every day for a few hours and help out"

Grant bit back a scathing coht Keith wanted to help her That was just his jealousy talking, and no matter how ly side of hiet rid ofrid of you at all"

"Yes, you are, and I think I have a right to knohy"

Isabelle rubbed her eyes, suddenly looking more tired than she had since the poison had hit her Grant had to clench his hands together to keep fro out to her

She clearly didn’t want that fro attached to you," she said

"So? Don’t you think she deserves a little adult coht now? If she feels safe with me, what harm could there be in that?"

"The har as I need to"

Why not? He had no place else to go now He didn’t want to go back into the aro hang around with David or Caleb, but he’d just be in the way They had their wives now They didn’t need hihtened with frustration "You’ll stay until she’s eighteen? Until she’s through college? Are you going to be the one to walk her down the aisle when she ht now Stability"

"And I’m not stable?"

"Your life is in Colorado Why are you acting like it’s not?"

He looked at the table She didn’t know he’d lost his job, and that’s the way he wanted it He didn’t want her to knoas just another unemployed, homeless loser He wanted her to reht My life isn’t here I should just s harder"

Isabelle laid her hand on his wrist Grant flinched and barely restrained hi his hand over so he could feel the slide of her fingers overhimself, and he didn’t need to help any in that department

"You’ll always be welcome back," she told hihten "Any tiave a harsh bark ofher believe in soone, she’d move on with her life, even if she didn’t know it yet "Yeah I can just see it now Me sleeping on the couch while you and whatever ether down the hall Thanks, but no thanks If you want me to leave noill, but I think it’s best if we just cut our ties"

She squeezed his wrist "I won’t ever do that, Grant You’re part of h one to matter" He jerked away fros scrape loudly against the floor

"Please don’t do this, Grant"

"Do what? I’"

"Tonight?"

"Why not? It’s better for everyone this way You said so yourself"

Isabelle grabbed his arh to stop him, but he took the hint and stopped himself

She stepped around hiid, vibrating with hurt and anger