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"There wasn’t enough of the exotic s I needed to do without Eed "The further I went back, the faster it burned up, the faster I aged, the longer it took for ht once I found Emerson, and once she was mentally healthy, I’d just need to help her understand what I’d done for her I was sure once we connected, she’d be willing to lass instead And then she trickedthe exoticme this? You always have a htly "Because we’re the sas ant from life We’re always the last to be considered The second choice And we both want that to change"

Fury So much I shook the bench "We Are not The saed "I have answers for you when you want them Wake up I can see you Now you need to try to see me"

A throat cleared I looked up sharply at the police officer froave him a nod "I’ll be on my way shortly I just want to finish this conversation"

The officer frowned "Are you sure you’re all right? No headache or … lingering … anything?"

"I’ I even threw in a thumbs-up "And dandy"

He nodded doubtfully and walked away, and I turned back around to face Jack

He was gone

But he’d left the pocket watch in his place

Chapter 30

The minibar stood open

I could see Eh a crack in their door, curled up in bed I assumed the door wasn’t closed because Michael planned to stay with Eht Either he didn’t want her honor to fall into question, or he didn’t want to break Tho up a tiny bottle of Crown Royal, I ran lass, a perfect replica of the bigger bottle I was a perfect replica of no one I wanted out of my head--out of my body Out of irl I don’t want to play right now"

I didn’t want to hurt her, either, but I didn’t need any witnesses Still, I was surprised when I didn’t feel any hurt I turned around

The sight of her " She crossed the rooers unwrapping each ofon to my wrist with one hand, she took away the liquor with the other

"You aren’t my keeper, Lily"

"No one is You’re responsible for you I’ you that you’re worth more than what you’ll find at the bottom of a bottle" She leaned over to put the liquor away and shut the mini-bar Her hair fell in waves over her bare shoulder, hiding the black strap of her tank top "Days like today could et"

"How about years like today?"

"I orried when you took off So were Eo to bed--proht"

Gesturing toward their open door, I said, "I don’t think they really cared whether I came back at all"

"That’s not true, Kaleb Eize That was before she cried so hard she wore herself out She knows she rong and that you were trying to help her because you love her"

I searched Lily’s face

"You do love her?"