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"I love you, Taryn Lynn Mitchell," he said with a sh I thought I had been in love before with other men, never did those three little words mean so much to s that flowed between us were natural and effortless; as easy as breathing

While he was kissing et inside for dinner" I pulled him by the hands

"You knohen you walked aith your keys I thought you were planning on speeding off in your car"

"No!" I laughed "I actually got you a birthday present today There’s no way I can get it hoive it to you now" I unlocked the car and he let go of ot it at the antiques store down the road I hope you like it"

"Wow! Look at this! It’s an old Gibson!" His fingers stru in his pocket distracted hiing"

"Hello? Who is this? Oh… what?" Ryan was short hoever was on the other line He turned his shoulder away fros perfectly clear the last tied Then stop calling me,"

he said quite callously

He turned his phone off and walked a few feet away before noticing that I wasn’t following hiht up, silently towing ht?" Ellen asked e entered the kitchen

"Yeah, Mos to discuss that were more important than dinner" He picked a piece of fish off of the plate and shoved it in his mouth "See this?" he whispered infans, no security, home-cooked meals, norlad to hear that," I said "Because it’s the only way I know"

After dinner, I grabbed some blankets and with two open bottles of e made our way out to the backyard Ryan and his father threwa nice blaze in the fire pit Millions of stars dotted the clear sky

I took Ryan’s guitar and softly played a few chords

"What are you playing?" Ryan asked

"Nothing… I just had so, each of us adding to theto come up ords that rhy

"When is your next , Son?" Bill asked