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"How about we do word puzzles first, autographs second?"

"Oh Cole, you’re onlyI have to ask you"

She frowned "I hate putting you in this position, so much I can’t even tell you But there’s this fundraiser co up soon and the district had been short of funds lately and--"

"Of course I’ll do it"

As she looked up at him with surprise, he had to wonder, had anyone ever been this beautiful?

"You don’t even knohat my principal wants you to do"

"Will you be there withwhatever it is?"

"Yes, of course I wouldn’t throw you to the wolves like that Not for anyone or any reason"

"Did you ever think for one second I wouldn’t help you?"

"Of course not I just felt so bad about the wayto feel bad about, sweetheart Nothing at all"

"I don’t get it" Another frown careat You shouldn’t have had to go out looking for randmother You should already have beenat hi to see all the way into his soul for the answers

"Other people don’t see me like you do"

All they saas football and et fro" She reached up, ran her fingers through his hair "And stupid"

She pressed her free palainst his chest "And blind Crazy blind"

Jesus, he’d never wanted anything, anyone, as much as he wanted the wo

A sharp pang nicked hi loose a memory from his childhood One of hundreds of afternoons he’d watched his friends’ parents come and pick them up from school while he walked alone to the bus He’d loved his grandmother more than anyone in the world, but he’d wanted a mom and a dad so bad that sometimes he almost hated her

Alh if she were gone then maybe they’d co a real wife just as bad as he’d wanted a real faain, nearly breaking him, the way it had tried to break hione looking for love? Or forever?

Anna was supposed to be temporary

Not forever

He wasn’t supposed to want her to stay forever

Good thing he knew exactly what to do, exactly how to make it seem like he didn’t care