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"That" I jerk my chin "And `cause she’s mine and a real man can deal with shittyin ti her botto stricter with her breaths

I should stop now The way she’s looking atand thought you were here alone," I add, sets to touch every night I thought I was going to have to kill him"

Riley stares up at me She doesn’t blink Doesn’t breathe

"Babe," I probe

"You shouldn’t say that," she says, face serious

Her hand squeezes tighter She’s anxious now, maybe Or pissed I don’t know

I decide to ease herto her

"I wouldn’t really kill hih"

"No Not that" She shakes her head "The other thing What he gets to touch You shouldn’t say that"

"It’s true"

"Even so We’re friends You shouldn’t say it"

I bend to get closer "You ht wanna take your hand off me if we’re friends, darlin’," I warn

Riley’s eyes flicker wider She yanks her hand back in a way it’s like she forgot she even had it there, her movement driven by panic, but before she can lower her ar it between us

"What are you doing?" she asks

I step closer, keepingintaste it

I run the risk of her hearing that need, but it’s funny

I just don’t care

Riley blinks Her lips part

And that resistance she’s putting up goes from weak to non-existent

"CJ," she murmurs under the sound of theme?"

I don’t knohy this is so important I don’t knohy I need to make sure this sticks with her, but I do

Hesitation keeps her still for a beat, or those damn nerves, I don’t know, but she eventually nods

"I’