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"You uys decided we needed her to paint our wall?"

"You knohat I’," Gray said

"Yeah," Hud said "And she says she’s okay" Which he really hoped was true

"And you?" Gray asked "You okay?"

"Why wouldn’t I be?"

Gray blew out a breath "Because ever since we heard that Jacob got hiain "Intense"

Yeah, true story

"And noith Bailey painting theJacob," Gray went on, "you’re going to have to talk about it You’re going to have to see him on the wall every time you ski down the mountain"

"And whose fault is that?" Hud asked "You wanted the daot the damn mural I’ll deal I always do"

Gray hesitated "Hud--"

"Stop It’s… Whatever," Hudthe family tree on the ith all of us? That’s how it should be Jacob’s still a part of this fas on it"

"But?" Gray asked "Because I sense a big, fat but"

But he had enough trouble dealing hat had happened between hi he needed was for it to be illustrated for the world to see

Gray took in his expression and shook his head "You do realize it is just a painting, right? And caricatures at that It’s not going to say anything personal"

"I know"

"Do you?" Gray asked

"Christ Yes Back off"

"You’re angry"

No shit But it wasn’t directed at Gray Or even Bailey

He was angry with hi about that day It’d been June and he and Jacob had just graduated high school They’d gotten into it right there at graduation, tearing off their stupid gowns and yelling stupid stuff at each other, a fact that haunted Hud every night

Gray glanced over at hiht You’re not okay, are you?"

Hud was starting to get why Bailey hated that question "I’ine the kiss helped," Gray said

"Aidan has a big hed "He told Lily, who told Penny, who told ot one and you’re part of it," Gray said "So… you going after that? After Bailey?"

"Are you insane?"

"Are you?" Gray volleyed back "What the hell’s wrong with you?"

"I don’t know but I bet that you’re about to tell ie for two years, but that had been five years ago "She lefta workaholic," he said "Old news"

"No, she left you because she wanted you to fight for her And then there’s Quinn She was in love with you and you walked away"

Hud shook his head "Quinn wasn’t in love witharound and then she decided she didn’t want to anyht tooth and nail at work and you’re the strongest person I know, so why are you such a pussy when it coer into Hud’s chest

Okay, soto stay far, far back fro between him and Bailey Yeah, yeah, a shrink would have a field day with this His dad had left hiree so had his mom, and then there was Jacob Hud definitely had the whole abandonment issue down pat Which he hated about himself