Page 69 (1/2)

The one o of our dark past and ery as much as he depresses me The man I love is still an asshole ants to conveniently lay all the blame for our relationship’s deht up the fact that he’s the one that ultimately turned his back when he wouldn’t respond to my calls or email I should have thrown that in his face I should have done it just to see the chagrin and shame that would have mollified me somewhat the last few days

That’s what I should have done, but honestly, it wouldn’t have made o

Again

"Have you heard fro pan from the bottom cupboard

My head jerks up in surprise My dad and I haven’t really talked about Hawke since we returned I didn’t hide the truth of what happened I told him I laid my heart out there, but Hawke just wasn’t in the sareed with the way I just gave up, but he understood how badly I was hurt and thus supported my decision to leave the Cold Fury

"Well, have you?" he presses

My face drops back down to the floor so I have ti tears "Nope Not a word"

"Maybe you should reach out to hiently "I mean…you two didn’t really talk much about it You sort of ht decision," I protest angrily "I can’t be with someone I love who doesn’t love me back"

My dad’s lips press into a syhter "Yeah, I know I just thought…well, I just thought you tere it for each other, you know?"

"Yeah, I know," I agree as I walk up to my dad I place my hands on his shoulders and look him dead in the eye "But I’ll be okay Given time, it will all be fine"

"Yoo-hoo," I hear called out from the front of the house as the front door opens

"Back here, Avery," I call back I can hear Piper ju on the hardwood and then a distinctive ooine Piper just ju," Avery says affectionately, and then she’s walking into the kitchen with Piper hot on her tail While I don’t question Piper’s loyalty to me, there’s no doubt she loves the woman who fed and cared for her the past few months

"Hello, hello," Avery says as she pulls her coat and hat off, throwing theivingon to my dad With her ar teddy bear?"

Dad laughs, squeezes her back, and says, "Got a Christ a wink atyou could build a tree house in it"