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Twelve thirty co a rush of relief through me, but I force myself not toat hi anson’t help us as a couple at all And I don’t want to be this nagging, de woman, who says No I want to be his partner in life, and that ht have to accept that he’s not ready to talk and that my need for immediacy is, at least in part, about me anda T-shirt with his dress pants "Hey sweetheart," he says, eyeingon so late?"

I e of the couch "I have this idea for Brandon Enterprises that I’ive you reason to be as well"

He leans on the door frame as if he isn’t overly anxious to come near me, and I’m not sure why or how to feel about that "Cos Ties Shoes Purses We could buy stock in a big co brands with potential we could take over It’s really not corruptible and we could have brands within the brand to hit price points, and ensure economic stability"

"I like it," he says quickly "And I really like that you’re so excited about it"

"I am," I reply, and the silence that follows beats like my heart--unbearably heavy--and I blurt out "Why are you dressed like that?"

"I ith Derek when he had a hand injury He bled all over me"

"Oh God Is he okay?"

"He didn’t exactly invite me to the hospital with him" He hesitates "There’s another reason There was an ordeal at the facility tonight I went there, and Lana greetedher arms around me There itnesses A camera, and I can--"

"I don’t need a camera or witnesses," I say, no hesitation in ht noant to stop thinking I’ secrets"

I’ve barely gotten the words out and Shane is in front ofmy face "Don’t do that to you, me, or us Don’t make us them e are not I worked my ass off for my money that has no connection to ize forsoive est that before he s I wanted to fix before they scared you away"

My heart squeezes with the emotion etched in his confessions and I flattenbeneatha story of worry and trepidation "This isto You know my past You can’t scare me away"

He takes my hands in his "We’re about to find out"

More relief washes overon mine where they rest on ht was all about a major effort that should have let me tell you what I’ that it’s over It failed It’s not over"

"What isn’t over?"