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"I think his head’s a little fucked up right now, but Gavin’s in love with you I’ets one look at you, he won’t be able to resist" Trevor rose and placed his hand on her shoulder "Let’s just hope he doesn’t stay away for the next six h Trevor ripped the only re piece of her heart from her chest, Emily tried to breathe She stood and stared into his eyes, her voice tre?"

"Em, I didn’t mean it like that"

"No, you did What would make you say that?"

Trevor chewed at the side of his lip and briefly looked away He shrugged "Gavin can ione"

As thick disorientation ht her hand to herher way toward the bar, her feetquicker than her body could comprehend She reached underneath the counter for her purse, coat, and scarf, her heart rate taking off

"Look, I shouldn’t have said that" Trevor approached the bar, his expression full of regret "He can come back tomorrow--"

"Or in sixpast him

As she reached for the door, her chest squeezed, tightening with panic A shiver h her when she stepped out of the restaurant With hera mile a minute, Eh swar the sidewalk Car horns, conversations, and sirens danced around her, but she couldn’t hear any of it She felt deaf to it all

The only sound she heard was Gavin’s voice whispering in her ear, Gavin’s laugh hu her to sleep A rush of tears fell at the thought of hi Nine days nearly sank her She knew six months would kill her

As the front of the Chrysler building came into her view, uncertainty about what she was about to do rippled across Emily’s skin But no matter how uncertain she was, she wasn’t about to let it stop her Before she knew it, she found herself entering the lobby As soon as she did, she felt the air whoosh froentleainst the information desk Her vision blurred with black hair and aGavin’s She came to a complete standstill as she watched him leisurely tuck his hand into the pocket of his pants and run the other through his hair the sa to suck in nonexistent air, Emily slowly moved in his direction Consciousness void of what her body was doing, she lifted a tre Gavin, Ene before he turned around When he did, she was met by unfamiliar eyes, an unfa heart plummeted to her feet

"Can I help you?" the man asked

Unable to er Hit by a sudden wave of nausea, she felt dizzy as she opened hercame out

"Miss, are you okay?" With trepidation, the oing to pass out"

Emily cleared her throat, shook her head, and backed away "I’ht…" She couldn’t finish her sentence Blinking once, Emily turned and squeezed into the crowded elevator, her compulsion to press on nearly irresistible

A woman in a red twill business suit craned her head around "Which floor do you need?" she asked tersely

Eain some sense of reality, establish a hint of mental balance as she looked at the woman But it wouldn’t cohed and shrugged

An older gentleman with a pleasant s for?"