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I break away choking on a sob

"Jesus, Ri," Richard laughs as I wipe atto sup at hi I feel ashamed

And I’ve made a terrible, terrible norant to race Richard pulls a strand of ers, studies it, then bends down and runs his nose alongback and getting out of his arms

I knoho I smell like

"I need to shower I probably still have sand onoff s

This time Richard letsto getout

Because we’re still together

Because ere never broken up

We were never broken up

I scramble into the bathroo open the shower curtain and turning on the water, I tug my phone out of ra

While I was in bed, naked, with a big char like a mixture of sweat and sex

The sa to my skin

"Tully"

I turn away fro my voice down just in case

"Jesus," CJ murmurs "Your voice on the phone is hot as shit, darlin’ Say so else to me"

"I can’t do this"

There’s a pause, then a breathy laugh breaks through the line "Not exactly what I had in ht Is this your nerves getting to you again? What’d I say about that?"

"No," I answer "It’s notthe s back and forth between the toilet and the door as I explain

"We weren’t broken up I thought ere but eren’t We were on a break, I guess, but that isn’t the saether And Islept with you I slept with you when I had a boyfriend back at home"

"Did more than just sleep with me," CJ points out

I close my eyes for a breath "I know But I wouldn’t have done that if I thought Richard and I were still together I’irl I swear"