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"I ruined as a perfectly great night," she says apologetically "Let s up"

This does not sit ith me Which is odd, because for the last four days, I’ve wanted nothing more than Vale to co too fast And now that she see ihtly nauseated

That she’s apologizing for her feelings

"Vale," I say, intent on trying to ease her conscience without devaluing as in her heart

"I’," she says, and pulls her head up fro onto hers She holds aze, doesn’t look away in cowardice or sha this decision, and I have to wonder how she ca where?"

"I’ve been offered a job back at Ohio State…as an assistant athletic trainer for the women’s lacrosse team Tryouts are in January"

My head spins, and while my inclination is to squeeze her hand in denial, I’m further thrown off balance when she pulls her hand away She turns on the concrete step to look directly at me "I’ve already talked to Gray Brannon She said I can continue on until the end of the year or leave now Dad wants to et settled back there and then head to Colu out of my stupor to ask with incredulity, "Just wait a minute Is this because I couldn’t say the words back to you?"

I expect her to deny it and give ives me blunt honesty "Yes That’s the exact reason While I’ht, I’ll never apologize for s I do love you, Hawke, and you cannot kno painful it is knowing you don’t feel the same"

"Actually, I do kno bad that feels," I say bitterly, hoping to hurt her just a tiny bit the way she’s hurting er and hurt ithin her eyes "So I guess that ht?"

"Not the same, Vale," I say tiredly as I stand up from the concrete step and brush my jeans off "Back then, you cut o and never thought twice about me after that I’m quite sure this et over soive row back into this, but you want everything right now"

"I can’t deny s," she says as her eyes drop down to her hands, where she fiddles with her bracelet

"And I can’t conjure up feelings that may not exist," I throw back at her Total ass co cornered and confused