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"Maybe things have changed" Lily didn’t want to believe her

"Do you think your father works for theovernhest bidder, and then he watches ot louder and louder "What do you think these men would do if they could double their intake? What makes you think you’d be treated well, alone on a boat with so htmy arm on the back of her chair

Abi stared at randdaughter "It’s not like it is here It’s not the sarateful for all you’ve given up for ain control of her e a lot of luck "But I need you to understand that what I’ to do could make the difference between life and death--"

"No" The force behind Abi’s ansasn’t just strong, it was harsh I could tell Lily wasn’t used to being spoken to that way, the sa her

"Fine" Lily stood, crossed the kitchen, and took her bag and jacket fro by the front door "I’ll be hoer ask permission?"

I hated the hurt I felt between theht

"May I leave?" She didn’t randmother’s eyes "With Kaleb?"

Abi looked at hter?"

"Yes, ma’a that would put her at risk?"

"No, ma’am, I won’t" I stood up "I promise"

"Fine, then" Her eyes were dull "I love you, Lily"

Lily didn’t say a word as alked out the front door

Chapter 35

We strolled

I’d never really taken a leisurely trip around don Ivy Springs, and definitely not with a girl Lily’s spikes of erandmother had told her I knew that when she was ready to talk, I’d be the one to listen She trusted me

That pleasedcontest took upout fro on benches I didn’t want to be in a crowd and neither did Lily, so we ended up at Sugar High, a candy shop decorated like a high school hallway Pep rally and prom ticket posters decorated the wall, there was even the occasional announcement over the loudspeaker The locker doors were clear and showcased row after row of any candy ih a half pound of Ato mint hot chocolate

"She loves you," I finally said

"Of course she does She sacrificed her life, her fa athered up the empty wrappers on the table and leaned my chair back to drop theret in her, Tiger She’d do it a hundred times over"

"I know that, too" She stared off into space, twisting the Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate around in her hands I jumped when she slammed it down so hard on the table the contents sloshed over the sides "But she’s still forbiddingblows"

A mom shot Lily ahi reasonable," she said a few seconds later, wiping the spilled hot chocolate up and shoving the dirty napkin in her cup "She kno important it is to me, or I wouldn’t have asked She kno much I care about Em, and I told her how I feel about you--"

"Me?"