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Dax grinned, the first genuine one I’d seen "Not at all It’d be nice to have another guy around Do you like to play Xbox?"

"I will kick your ass at Halo"

"Language," I said but no one seemed to notice

"You can try," Dax snarked "And, by the way, I love pickles too There’s a whole jar of dills in there right now that ht me She canned them herself"

Malcolm took that in He adjusted his wire spectacles and focused on me "He’s cool You should totally live here"

"Yeah What he said" Dax gazed atout to dab at his lower lip He bit it, and I tore ?

As if directed by a part of ht hand toyed with the small strand of pearls I’d put on withthe papers he’d been holding on the floor between us Bending down fro overin his cheeks as he sat up and put the paper on the table

I dropped the pearls and twistedhim?

I glanced back at him to see that his face had whitened I followed his eyes, realizing he’d seen the engageer

I stared at the rock that sy I wanted Hartford had asked reed the day we landed back in Raleigh Part of me had wanted toabout me The rest of ht ht here on the search for an apart, I focused on Dax His eyes caught mine, and bit-by-bit, everyone else in the roo aze back to Hartford

His face reddened "You can’t ht, there’s a place for Malcol I want"

"Except it’s a guy you’re considering living with," he said, his voice sharp

"I have nowhere else, Hartford"

And you’re the reason I’otten?

"I’ where I live No one else," I added firmly

He flicked his eyes to Dax and then consideredrotten

Dax cleared his throat "Uh, I can give you a few moments alone"

"No, that’s not necessary I want the rooree with this

A few tense moments ticked by until finally he exhaled, leaned over, and put his hand over mine "I’m sorry to be a pain, babe I just hat’s best for you, and this isn’t it With that said, I’ll support whatever decision you make" He shot a dark look at Dax "Anyway, I’m just down the road, and you can always stay over with lad he was getting on board

Dax pushed the papers over for n