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"I don’t want anything" She bit her lower lip as she stared at my hands "From anyone I can handle situations by myself Usually This … this is … different"

I reached out farther "It’s five et you to your rooet another flash?"

"Not tonight I won’t make any pro softened her When she save an extra kick in my chest

Hallie took ht, and e reached her house, she stopped at the side entrance

"I’ll take it from here," she said "Carl’s on duty, and he won’t ratme home"

"So, to to … as it? Put my man berries in a vise and hand h was soft, her eyes curious We looked at each other, and in that long

"Yes," she said "Come back tomorrow"

Chapter 7

Hallie

Dad’s bedrooain"

Even though it was alun sat on the top of his dresser I knew the safety was on For the millionth time, I started to wonder what drove him to constantly arm himself inside his own hoestured ed My knees were cos still felt wobbly From my fall Not from nerves

I sat down in the arht somebody in to handle business you should’ve taken care of yourself"

He didn’t look at lass So do you"

Now Dad spun around to face me head-on "He told you that?"

"No, Daddy," I said softly "Mo down his shoulders and the corners of his ret for her choices She’d thrown us off so carelessly, and he’d tried to make up for her absence He’d really tried

I wanted to spare him any more pain, but I wanted the truth, too "Why didn’t you tell me?"

Dad turned his back, took off his belt, and untucked his shirt "I don’t know enough Definitely not the kind of answers you’re going to want When did your mother tell you?"

"She called and offered to help, allin the hospital About his betrayal with her"

He grimaced "We must have been on her " I focused on soa T-shirt