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"And, anyway, this isn’t even about me," she said "It’s about you You don’t want to have to be vulnerable to me To anyone You don’t want to open up to me"

"I’ve opened up and shared more with you than just about anyone else," he said

"But you’ve still held back You think you have to be perfect or so, I already know you’re not perfect"

Direct hit And they both knew she was no longer talking about last night "I didn’t want to hurt you," he said

"You made a blanket decision about us without reed And he’d do the saain "Couaranteed life of hurt" He’d done her a favor by breaking things off before heading into the military He’d always looked back on it just like that, telling himself she’d be happier without hi for her now He’d had his chance, and he’d made the choice to walk away He’d refused to alter his life to fit her into it He hadn’t been willing to add the cos as sis, but simple wasn’t one of them Then or now

"So as last night, then?" she asked

Well, hell

"You don’t even know, do you," she said in disbelief

No, he didn’t He didn’t have a clue

"Really?" she said when he reo with the whole Dark, Tortured, Silent persona? Fine That’s fine, Adaood at that You’re thepeople in with your quiet, sexy char the theth and not letting the if she was always so das Another question that would be better kept to hiht with her on aand her father h Maybe he could tease her to break the ht," he said "When we--"

She closed her eyes "Yeah, what about it?"

"You caave hias himself away He’d known she’d co, and he’d be reliving theher leg, she blushed "I wouldn’t fake"

"Good to know," he said "But you seeot so away "Fun as this aard estured to the woods

"Wait" He pulled a small canister of pepper spray from his backpack "Take this with you"

"For all the rapists that hang out here?"

"For the bears and other curious four-legged predators"

Nodding, she clutched the canister, turned on her heels, and headed toward the woods

"Don’t go far," he said to her stiff spine "It’s easy to get turned around--"

"Contrary towith you by the way," she clarified helpfully, "I’m not a coot a few inches, but it’s deceiving" He shoved the first-aid kit into his pack "I’ll come with--"

"Follow me and die"

He went still "Okay, but just reht--"

She waved a dis into the woods

"Milo," Ada bounded over

"Seek," he said, and pointed

Milo went trotting after Holly If she wouldn’t listen to reason, then she could have a babysitter while finding herself a tree

But a few seconds later he heard her say "no," quite clearly, obviously to the dog She er point, because a chastened Milo ca out of the woods

"It’s okay," Adam told him "Good job" He took a ht?" Dell asked casually

"Don’t start"

"I’, Holly didn’t kill you You two find soes, Dell"

"Look, just say yay or nay cuz Jade keeps textingto know if I’ve heard from you yet"

"Well, now you can tell her you’ve heard fro?" Dell pressed

"Jesus"

"Hey," Dell said "It’s not for uilt thing" He paused "You’re not, right? You’re…okay?"

Adaainst the tree "Should I assu critical?"

"Depends on your definition of critical Reno kicked o That horse has no manners"

"Tell him I owe him a whole apple," Adam said, and disconnected He called Brady next, who told hiood," Ada caves Yay

"You okay out there?" Brady asked, as always able to pick up on Adam’s stress

"Why wouldn’t I be?"

"I don’t know You tell hed softly

"Yeah, I’ht here next to him," Brady said "So it’s true, then You and Holly"

"Dell doesn’t knohat he’s talking about"