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Twenty minutes later, wrapped in a thin blanket and in front of an open fire, a irl fell asleep under the stars, holding each other in their arms… and for the first time in their turbulent lives, they felt fully exposed and completely understood

Chapter Nineteen

Austin

The hypnotizing ainstback to sleep when I woke in the dawn, birds chirping outside the su my eyes shut to rid them of sleep, I instinctively rolled closer to Pix, and a chilly breeze cut under a gap in the thin blanket

Turningthe night before had dwindled down to ash, and a light frost was creeping up the skylight’s glass, its heavy pattern al rays of the sun reflected off the pane

As I followed the hazy pattern of a sunbeaht to the contented face of Pix tucked into eous

Her fresh face was free of makeup and her tiny arainst the dark tone of my tattooed abs My arh It was like even in sleep, my mind knew to respect her boundaries Pix’s dress straps were firer exposed, and my heart kind of sank when I realized she ht I hated that she thought so little of herself That she had to be plagued with insecurities the first time we made love, the first tih with h slipped frohter withher sweet scent I knee couldn’t stay here all day I had practice Hell, so did she The SEC Cha up soon, but I just wanted to hold her like this for a ti outside that door

But one thing was for sure: I felt changed Different solance down, and her sleepy eyes were fixed on mine It didn’t take a dah the, and pressed a kiss to her forehead

"Morning," she replied and ran her cheek across er down her ar her head, a pink, shy blush had spread across her face "I feel… sowide, I caught her quick inhale of breath and, cupping her face, brought her lips to meet mine When I had fully taken her mouth--possessively, obsessively--Iher head to hed I kneas because it was tio To leave this little stress-free void

"You ready to get going?"

Lexi nodded and gradually sat up, stretching out her ar me Beneath the thin fabric of her dress, I could see her tiny silhouette, andthe function of my muscles

Ribs A shit ton of Lexi’s ribs were on show, poking through her skin in an unhealthy-looking way, and her spine stuck out al my worried stare, Lexi snapped her head around to face me and instantly jurow huge with panic

"Pix," I whispered and dreaded the response toain? ’Cause you’re looking real thin You alear such loose clothes so I never noticed, but…"

The subtle signs of anxiety appeared on Lexi’s face: nostrils flaring as she panted in short breaths, lips twitching, and her chest rising in heavy motion

"I’m fine," Lexi snapped and covered herself with her arms "I’m just stressed"

I nodded my head cautiously and slowly stood toas I approached, and I reached out and took her face within my palms She refused to look at me, eyes planted firhtly for ato hear what I had to say I wanted to say a shit ton, but seeing the fear on her face that I was gonna call her out on her issues had hts