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"I’ anywhere with you"

"I know you’re upset You probably want to hide for a while and cry Let’s get you out of here, okay?"

She gulped air She did want to hide and cry, but not for a while Forever

"I’ll take you to the hotel and I’ll leave you alone Or you can let me hold you Whatever you want"

The probleood yet terrible, being held in Sed’s strong arms sounded better yet worse--but she nodded and let hily out theon the way through the city What was she going to do? There was no way she could hide this video from her peers, her professors, her fa would destroy her credibility Would it mean the end of her career? Was it over before it started? Her dreams destroyed for a fewhot streaked down her cheek She dashed the tear aith the back of her hand and glanced at Sed to see if he’d noticed When their eyes met, he smiled sadly, and then stared down at his hands, which were folded in his lap

Another tear fell Another She wiped her face on the hem of her T-shirt Da She could get through this She could always become a hermit and make pinecone wreaths in the sequoia forests The trees wouldn’t know she was a… she was a… a skaaaank

Jessica took a deep breath that turned into an anguished sob Sed touched her shoulder That sates She caught his startled expression just before she flung herself across the backseat and into his arms He held her as if her tears would wash her away and he had no intention of allowing the raging waters to pull her fro safe, she let the humiliation wash over her Oh God, people would see her, see her like that, and… and… they would think she was a slut A whore A trahter "I’ll fix it I prolared up at him "You can’t fix this, Sed You can’t This is an unfixable situation"

He cupped her face in both hands and kissed the tears from her cheeks "I said I’ll fix it and I will Don’t cry"

The cab pulled to a stop outside the Bellagio hotel and Jessica scra in line for the next available taxi gawked at her as she hurried into the hotel They’d probably seen her video Orfro Whatever it was, she wished she had a bag to put over her head

When they reached the room, Sed directed her to the bathrooarden tub

"What are you doing?"

"Pa you Get in the tub I’ll call room service"

"I don’t want to be pa tub did look inviting And there was a coe of the tub "Okay"

Sed let out a relieved sigh He probably thought this fixed things Well, it didn’t Nothing would fix this

"I’ll be right back" And when he kissed her--for a fleetingto be okay