Page 17 (1/2)

"But you said no"

I nod "I said no And he didn’t like it So, he went on withoutwas planned The dress was purchased The church was decorated"

His brows shoot toward the ceiling "But you ran away"

I nod, biting my lower lip He pulls it free with the pad of his thumb and strokes across it I kiss his thumb, and he leans back "I ran away," I confir, I ran away I took a bus fro"

I show hiuitar, and bus fare"

"Where are you from?" he asks

I shake my head "I can’t tell you" Yet I know I’ll tell hiout where I am My father is one of the richestme home"

He nods He’s not happy about it, but he understands "Julliard, huh?" he asks, s His thumb trails across the back of le with reading," I admit "But Julliard didn’t care I even auditioned for the They wanted me And offered special services for my dyslexia But my dad found it to be a worthless endeavor He’s of the opinion that I can’t learn Anything"

"Your dad is an idiot" Logan says it deadpan

I laugh It’s a watery sound He believes inyou fro now?"

"My social security nu for me And I’m afraid he’ll force me back there if he knohere I aet a bank account or register for school"

Logan shakes his head "You’re an adult You’re not under your father’s thu to realize that "I don’t think I’ll ever go back"

"Do you miss them? Your family?"

I miss them like crazy "Almost every day"

"Your dad?"

I nod

"Your mom?"

I nod, and tears prick at my lashes when I think of her But she didn’t help ed and pleaded for her to do so She sided with s?" he asks

I shake my head "My parents didn’t have ypped, huh?"

"Don’t say that," he warns sharply

"It’s the truth I’ve never been what they wanted"

"What did they want?"

Someone else "Someone who can read Follow in their footsteps Sons or financial states"

"Have they ever seen you play?" he asks

I shake ger idiots than I thought You were a out of the pal that"

His eyes narrow "It’s the truth"

"I appreciate you so much," I say I know I’ve only known him for a few days, but it feels like forever "Did I tell you enough?" I ask

"Not by a long shot," he says with a laugh "I want to know everything"

Maybe soh info that he could contacthe was helping me

"You’re worried that I’ll betray your confidence?" he asks He sits back, affronted

"Soood intentions I know you do But you don’t understand how much I have to keep my anonymity I can’t trust anyone" If I do, my parents will suddenly have the info they need to sweep down and snatch me back into their world

He nods He’s somber I should have kno this would affect him

"Now that you knohere I came from, I understand if you want atheraround my stomach as he picks s over his thigh "Where do you think you’re going?"

I heave a sigh "I have no idea"

He tips my face up and looks into my eyes "I want you here Will you stay?"

"Will you be satisfied hat I told you?"

He nods "For now, yes"

His eyes narrow and I knohat his next question is "Will you tell me your name?"

I shakeainst his shoulder He holds me like that for a minute, and then he jostles me out of his ar me He climbs in behind me and turns me to face hiet Thank you for telling "

I lean forward and touchback

He pulls ainst my hip

"Oh," I say My belly clenches My need entle fingers "Yeah," he says with a laugh "It’s like this crazy tor you this close to ainst my lips to stop me

"I can wait," he says He reaches over and turns off the light He rollsof hair that’s on his chest tickles an," I say to the darkness