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Gripping the rusty , she slowly started down the stairs, her pulse fluttering with each step she took By the time sheher gaze In an instant, E As the waves kicked up, pounding against the pier, she watched Gavin make his way toward her He shoved his hands in his pockets, his eyes locking on hers as he stopped a few feet away Even with distance separating theh her, felt the undeniable connection they shared

"I love you, Eround, then back to her "I think I loved you before I knew you existed" His voice was so soft, Eht his hand to her cheek, his touch gentle as his blue eyes caressed hers "I’m pretty sure you were in my dreams before you walked into my life I felt it the first time I saw you You pulled at o Even if you had, I wouldn’t have let you I wouldn’t have been able to So about you was… familiar, and it scared the shit out of me, but I knew somehoe needed one another I’ve never been a man who believed in any type of fate I considered it fluffy bullshit wo down here for the last couple of hours, I started thinking about you and ain he paused, his head tilted as he wiped away a tear that’d trickled down her cheek "Did you knoas supposed to go on that trip to Ohio with Trevor when you were in school?"

"I did," she whispered Though her nerves started to caloodbye "Olivia toldcloser, he wrapped his arainst hers "You were never supposed to be with Dillon You were always supposed to wind up with me, but fate interrupted us for a while This babyI need in one I wasn’t kidding when I said the good, the bad, and the in between This is just our… in between right now" A small cry escaped E here before you tonight, I give you my word as a man, as your friend, and as your lover, if this baby isn’tit I can’t tell you I’m not scared because that would be a lie, and I promised you I’d never lie to you I’m scared to death, and I know you are too So, Miss Cooper, if you’ll forgive otto be absolutely scared to fucking death together No ure it out Sound like a deal?"

Body warm and breath stolen, Emily nodded and pulled him down to herin a sea of hurt and confusion But now, as she stood on this beautiful Christh anything, she was drowning in a sea of relief so deep, words couldn’t even begin to describe it

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The New Year had co with it a mountain of e Gavin’s hand, Emily couldn’t help but wonder what it was like for her nant with her Given her father started showing signs of abuse soe, Emily’s nancy Her intentions were to leave E another baby with hireatest surprise of her life That si loud in Emily’s ears as the receptionist called her up to theto fill out paperwork

"Do you want o with you?" Gavin asked as she rose fronore her full bladder that’d just screaood It’ll just take a second"

Gavin nodded

After reaching for her purse, E for the blonde, bobbed-hair girl to finish up a call she’d taken, Elanced around the s to be seen Emily wondered if any of them were in the sahly doubted it On a sigh, she ru out her insurance card and license

"Sorry about that It wasa clipboard through the"If nothing’s changed, you can just sign at the bottom, and Dr Richards will be with you shortly"

"I have a new insurance carrier, and ed" Euo make copies Emily shook her head at the obvious lack of professionalisirl finally returned, she slipped theh the , and Emily filled in the necessary sections on the forh she was about to burst