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"Brian, do you think I could have a ith you in private?" I asked There was soet it out of the way

"Sure Clay Want to go out on the porch or soreat" I gulped nervously, htly I followed hiht back as they questioned where I was going When we got outside I headed straight over to the porch swing, needing to sit down for a fewat , Clay?"

I shookto cal and I’hed and patted , Clay What’s up?"

I took a deep breath, "Ok, so you know I love Riley, right?" I started He nodded, frowning, obviously confused as to where I was going with this conversation "Well, I knoe’re young but I really wanted to ask you for your perhter I know I should have asked you before, traditionally I should have asked you a long tiht?" I winced a little, feeling bad that we’d run off to get married, Riley had told hed, looking a little relieved "You hadand ran a hand through his hair "Clay, I know you and Riley are uy for her, I really couldn’t The only hope I ever had for her was that she’s happy in her life, and you rinned, "So, that’s a ‘yes Clay, you can ht I added, "Again"

He nodded, "Yeah Clay, I’d be honoured to call you ain"

I s oversmile stretched across his face "Thanks Brian We won’t be running off this tiet married here, in a church this tiive her away," I said

He laughed, "I guess I’d better break out the wedding fund I’ve been paying into since Iinto a wedding fund for Riley? I wasn’t too surprised though, to be honest Brian doted on his daughter and I’d never seen a h she wasn’t even technically his daughter

"I guess you’d better," I laughed I noticed that he hadn’t let go of e

His face tuned serious, "Clay, I love you like a son I really do I know you love hter, which is the only reason I would consent to you two getting " His eyes bored intounder his intense stare "But if you hurt hter, I swear I’ll kill you h, but because he was being so serious I kept ht as I nodded "Absolutely I’ll never hurt her, I proo of ain as he s out for his daughter and I couldn’t help but admire the man, maybe he loved Riley as ht, no one loved anyone as much as I loved Riley, it just wasn’t possible

"Thanks for letting us stay here," I said, leaning back against the swing, sain You stay as long as you need to, ok?" he patted ain

I was about to anshen the screen door opened and the love ofat us curiously I s in the space betweenbetween the two of us worriedly

I nodded and slipped ’s perfect, Riley bear"

Brian stood up, kissing the top of her head He s you two There’s a party going on in there, people came here to see you, Clay," he said as he walked into the house

Riley pulled her knees up, curling into hed happily as we just sat on the swing for a little while, neither of us talking, just holdingwas just as it should be

Chapter 33