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I reached over and took her hand and we sat there in silence, leaning on each other and giving comfort without the necessity of words After a while, the back door opened and Chloe stood there, giving us a watery s so nice toyou leave your own house, E off her apology "You have nothing to apologize for We completely understand You needed to talk to your brother and you didn’t need us hovering over you while you did Now," she clapped her hands and stood up, brushing off her jeans as she did so "Are you hungry? Because I make so for dinner"

Chloe looked uncertain but when Eed one bite of the sandwich she’d ratefully I stood up and walked closer to her, adding inat my house I have an extra room and Jackson will be there Brandon too," I added as an afterthought Though I wasn’t quite sure why

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully We helped Euys had coone out the front door to take a few et us) and we’d all hout

Brandon drove us tomy directive, Chloe caht with her and we got her settled into the spare rooet ready for bed ourselves

Chapter 9

I woke up the nextwrapped up in Brandon I say that because his arled with mine He’d scooped me close to his chest and led even closer to hi out withfor the other warm body that was usually wrapped around me as well

My hand encountered cold sheets and it took a second for otten up with his sister I nestled back against Brandon again, reveling in his warth of his arms around me I stayed that way for a while until he shifted in his sleep, re onto his back His other arhtened and pulled me into his side and I sht and I loved it

I kissed his chest gently and traced the lines of ink written across the upper left side of his chest, over his heart This tattoo was my favorite of his It was scripted words that I knew he’d written himself that read:

Love is but a thousand blades

That cuts the heart to shreds

But I’ll bleed for love a thousand times

To feel before I’m dead