Page 28 (1/2)

Just ironic

"So, you want to tell looer seat

"Just a friend," I say quietly, but I intend to give hih…back in Sydney We dated"

"For how long?"

"Four years; started when I was sixteen years old"

Todd coughs, clears his throat "Why did you break up?"

I don’t answer him, because I can’t It’s not a story that I feel co with him, especially when I haven’t ever shared the reason with anyone other than Avery and my father

"The reason is private," I say carefully as I turn in the seat slightly to face hio Hawke and I went our separate ways and haven’t spoken with each other until we both landed here at the Cold Fury He’s angry at ht Hell, he does have the right, but I’h, because I can’t afford to get caught up in the negativity of it all I don’t have room for that in my life"

"And do you have room for me in your life?" he asks as his hand reaches out to take mine

"Of course I do," I say automatically Almost like a robot

And I realize that’s a true statement I do have rooht question The one that would haveis if I want him in my life That, I’m not so sure about

And that’s because Hawke coed up sofro, sadness, desire

Yes, there was desire tonight in his bathrooht have even given myself to him But when he started in on the tattoo and reminded me of my disloyalty, I realized Hawke didn’t want me

He wanted to punish et a quick peek of what I refer to as h to make him stumble backward and away from me with a look of shocked disdain on his face I quickly dropped my skirt, because if he looked closely, he’d see his name was still there I couldn’t bear to cover it up, instead e it so I would always have a tiny piece of hi up this week, right?" Todd asks in a coe of subject

"Yeah," I say hesitantly, not sure where he’s going "Wednesday"

"And didn’t you say if it’s under control, they’ll probably do another three ht"

"Well, I’ve been thinking…why not justyour dad, because I have plenty of room at my house You both can stay there, and just fly back for the follow-up visits Iwell, there’s really no reason for you to stay here You won’t have rent to pay I’et another job quickly…maybe even back at Ohio State What do you say?"

What do I say?