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"There are a hundred different scenarios"

"Exactly, and it proves ht now" Her eyes were more serious than I’d ever seen thelass filters the sand from the future to the past That’s where we have to live, Kaleb Before all the sand runs out, or before solad I have you in my life, for whatever reason" My vision was suddenly blurry, so I paused and blinked a few tiht, or I’ll kill you" She held up a tiny, yet hty, fist "I can see how you feel about her I kno she feels about you And I guess I wonder … how many times have we had this conversation? What if last tiretted it, or I told you not to go after her at all? Wouldn’t you want to do things differently now?"

I ruffled her hair "Is this what goes on up there in that head of yours?"

"All the tio clear all of this up and tell her how I really feel"

Her answering senuine "Absolutely But maybe clean up first You have cookie crumbs on your chin"

Chapter 39

The wind slalass in the s rattled

The shop was alirls behind the counter One als when she saw nized as Sophie, spoke as if her lips were numb "Can I help you?"

"I need Lily" It had taken et the nerve up to talk to her Now that I was here, I didn’t want to waste ti beans In the back Do you want , I blew past her and pusheddoor The air sh

"Lily?"

She stuck her head out froeof mint tea, and the other held an open book clutched to her chest As she stepped around the side of the roaster, her index finger slipped into the book to mark her place

I wanted to tackle her

"Kaleb" A buzzer went off She put the tea and book down before flipping a switch on the machine "Why are you here?"

"I need to talk to you Please"

She sighed

"I’o away until you talk to me" I put my hands flat on the counter andto the swinging door and opening it, she leaned out into the coffee shop proper "Hey, Katie--you and Sophie shut down and then head ho to come out for coffee once this rain n in theI’ll lock up"

The girls on the other side of the door said sohed "He’s fine Thanks for the concern"

She cae expression on her face

"What?" I asked

"They orried I guess you made quite an impression on the way in"

"I was kind of in a hurry I really wanted to talk to you"

"You’re also as big as a house, tattooed, and pierced And wearing a black leather jacket"

"Oh yeah" I’m a bad ass A bad ass who bakes when he’s depressed