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"Because until last week, I was no one"

"That’s hard to believe"

"Emma" My name drifted in from the hallway It caentle smile He was dressed the same as his friend, in dress pants and a button-down shirt As he caed at his collar, unbuttoning the top two buttons Lingering for a moment, his lips remained on my cheek, and he whispered, "Are you okay?"

I was suddenly exhausted, so I shook my head "I don’t know" I spoke the truth

He pulled away enough to see my face and narrowed his eyes His hand caod What had I just done with those three words? He would push , he would know I’d been with Aure it out himself That’s what he did

"If I ask you to leave it alone, would you?" I had to try

He turned fro you,I can’t do that"

My hands curled around aze behind us, I shrugged a shoulder and whispered, "I’ll tell you later I just…can’t right now"

He nodded and ain, "I’m sorry I didn’t wake you and explain where we are You shouldn’t have woken in a stranger’s hoave h to make me yearn for an afternoon for just the two of us I wanted to bury my head in his chest and feel his arms as I had when he’d carried me and heldelse No outside world interrupting us, leaving me cold and hurt

"I love you," I whispered to him

"I love you" Then he stepped back, his hand still touching the side of ret flashed over his features for a split second before it vanished, and he becauards--or even Noah This was a different side of him He’d slipped back into his persona: business-like, professional, and with an air of power clinging to hiestured behind him, and his friend came forward "Emma, this is Cole Mauricio"

Cole smiled "Refill?"

My cup was al it over

As Cole went to refill it, Carter continued, "Cole’s been away for the last few years--"

"I’m back now"