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Zach frowned, nodding and looking down atthe cold co to do "Yeah He killed hiroaned at that information, overcome by a wave of compassion "My mom didn’t cope too hen he died, so she turned to drink I guesstrouble all the time made that worse too When I was seventeen she told h a bad phase then, but Olivia tookin me that no one else saw I owe her a lot"

All of these revelations made me understand Zach and his attitude just that little bithim one way or another was probably the reason that he put on that cocky, rude act in a bid to try and keep everyone else away from him Maybe it hy he’d once told me that he didn’t date The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop theirl to fall in love with you?" I asked

His eyes flicked up to meet mine, a bewildered, shocked expression on his face as if he hadn’t expected me to remember that he’d said that once ere sat in uess I mean, I wouldn’t want to inflict this disease on soh hell every time my dad refused to take his tablets and stuff I sahat it did to her when he’d lose his job all the time because he’d lashed out at his co-workers or just didn’t show up because he’d forgotten or gotten distracted He sank into depression and dragged her doith him too And then he left her in the end, left her with a kid that he’d infected with the sahtened into a fist on the table as he looked out of the café"It’s best if I just stay single, that way I won’t put anyone through what enetic line will end with me then No baby Anderson’s to fk up anyone else’s lives then"

I watched him, shocked by the passion that went into his words He truly irl, ever?" I clarified

He shook his head, adjusting the towel on ain "Nope"

"Have you ever dated?" I asked, suddenly wondering now about his past Was that why he was so edown at his hands as his finger started tracing a pattern on ht word to finish that sentence

"Honourable?" he offered, looking up at reed "Freaking stupid!" I finished, frowning at him

His"Stupid? How is that stupid?"

Inoise and waved my hand at him in example "Look at you," I cried

He rolled his eyes "Because of the way I look I should date people? I’etting at?" he asked angrily

"It has nothing to do hat you look like It’s how you behave Look at yourself right now, Zach," I instructed, shakingcare of me for the last ten htful and generous You’re funny, smart, loyal and considerate Surely you can see what a special person you are Why do you have such a negative ie of yourself?" I asked As I spoke his expression was turning ood in him before

"I’ve seen what it does to soreat now, but that’s because I’ like him and think I don’t need them? What if I fall back in with that bad crowd? What if I turn out to be exactly like hirily

"But what if you don’t?" I argued