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Friends?

"Who?" I ask

"Jemimah and Rainer?"

My heart clenches "Yes, please"

She patsbody I sit up as best I can and see there are tubes co from my hand and one from my sto to see it The door creaks, distractingin Mi her arms around my neck "You scared ain"

"It wasn’t intentional, I pro? Are you going to be okay?"

"I’m sore and yes, apparently so"

Her eyes scan my face "I was so afraid"

I reach over and take her hand "I’lances at Rainer "He’s desperate to talk to you I’ll get soout Rainer steps forward, and he looks tired and worried He stops at the edge of my bed and stares down at me, his eyes pained "Are you okay?" he asks, his voice raspy

"I’ his brown eyes

"You scared me Fuck, E"

"If I didn’t call you sotimes"

"Rainer, don’t," I whisper "Please don’t I answered the phone; you didn’tyou crazy It’s not a wonder you lost control"

"Please," I say, reaching over and taking his hand "Don’t"

"I’h and smile at him "So am I"

"I know you think I don’t care about you, but I do, fuck I doI didn’t realize how ht"

I stare at hi the truth, but it still doesn’t solve ht; I have to ask hiirl, but I need to knohere I stand I need to know if he’s going to be able to love ument, because that’s not fair on either of us

"Rainer, I need to ask so"

"I need you too, take a few days, a feeeks, whatever it is, and really think about what you need and want I need you to choose, and until you do I can’t be with you"

"You’re asking me to choose between you and Pippa?"

My heart clenches, and I nod