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"Morning," he said, ive her a quick kiss "Don’t change for me I like the way you look in jeans Ready?"

"Almost I just need to feed Carnac"

"Why do you even have that cat?" he said, his good ered on her pendant, and she tucked it behind her sweater "Haven’t his owners called yet?"

Shrugging, she shut the door "I like hi the covers, and he doesn’t eatas he levered his backside up onto a stool Peri went to the kitchen, keenly feeling the distance between them There was always space, and she didn’t knohy Was it his guilt that she’d lost so ed her and he didn’t love her anyood relationship by the heartache that flooded her when she thought about having lost it She was trying Allen was trying But she still felt … broken

"Peri, have you thought aboutback in with me?" he said, and she accidentally ripped the pouch all the way open, spilling it "I wouldn’t evento get the spilled cat food in the bowl "Allen, I’m sorry," she said to ease the bite of her words "I appreciate you notout in the first place, and until I re estured helplessly "We need to do a few tasks together That’s all"

Gaze down, he picked at the edge of his cast It had everyone’s naned it She ith hiover the counter, she gave him a kiss His knobby-knuckled hand rose to caress her jawline, and her fingers slipped from his smooth-shaven face Her eye twitched and she pulled up and away "Let o"

"Sure"

She could feel hi her as she wiped the counter down and washed her hands "How come you never knit anymore?" Allen asked, and she looked up, startled

"Ah, because it’s spring?" she said, eyes going to her canvas bag tucked beside the couch "It’s not as if I need it" No, she didn’t need the soft red scarf anymore, but clearly it bothered her that it wasn’t finished yet, since it was still out

"I like it when you knit," he said, and she ca for her purse

"I’ll finish it this weekend, then," she said as she found it and went to the front closet for her coat Good God, why did I buy a red coat? To ers on the smooth finish felt numb, and her focus blurred The jacket s it, and she had her doubts