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"But that’s an insane distance You rode all that way?"
"It’s only about sixteen er than I thought it would So when I realized that I’d be late, I hitched a ride"
My chest is tight, ers and never, ever, ever pick up hitchhikers ringing inhorrible chances because the father that he was supporting was too rant him the one small request that could make him so happy
"It was close," he says "But I made it on time"
Obviously I already know that he survived the journey, but even so, ot the books," I say, with a nod to the case
"Unfortunately, no I got there during the scheduled ti, but they were all out of books I decided to ask Bradbury to sign a bookmark instead, so I told him my story and he toldI know, his driver is putting my bike in the trunk of his car and we’re off to his house I spent three hours chatting with therooned them, and had his driver take me home"
I feel ridiculously weepy at this story and blink back the threatening tears "And your dad?"
"Never told hithe beach I paid for it," he adds darkly, "but I had the books I still have the books," he adds, nodding toward the case
"You do," I say "Bradbury sounds like a really nice man"
"He was"
"This is a wonderful story," I say, and I mean it These are the kinds of tidbits from his life that I want inside me Bits of Da it toto ht in for the party, but the real things There’s not much yet, but it’s all precious to me The art Each knickknack Even the furniture" He looks at h This is deeper "You are no exception, Nikki I brought you to this house because I want you here, just as I wanted your portrait"
I lickthat I don’t think you could haveGiselle act as hostess of the party But let’s be clear She’s not the hostess in this house, and she never could be Do you understand?"
I nod aardly I am breathless I am overwhelmed And I want desperately to be in the circle of his arms
The air between us crackles as Damien moves forward He is close, so close, and yet he is not touchingboth of us As if he is re together is just too damned explosive
"Dae