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"He carried it through the mall and all the way home Anytime Mom tried to take it froht it with hi in As soon as he cah the door he ran over, handed me Guido, and said, ʻFor youʼ" I reached over and patted Guidoʼs head "Iʼve slept with hiht since"

"That could be the sweetest story Iʼve ever heard I think Ifor indifferent and deadpan, but diether all that well

"Shut up Like your brother hasnʼt ever done anything sappy to show you that he loves you"

"Youʼve ht?"

He had a point I couldnʼt exactly picture Lia brother, isnʼt he?" It was obvious that Alex adored and respected Liaain, ere talking about Alex He would probably find redee qualities in Hitler

"The best" He said it in a way that left no roo on the Hallmark moments"

"It must be hard," I mused out loud, "for the two of you to be on your oithout parents" All the emotion drained froo from there It seemed like every time I tried to broach the subject of Alexʼs parents, he shut down It was i I felt co alone with hi Guido, as still clutched in his hands

"Youʼre staring at me"

I dropped lided under ," he said "Guido, however, was getting a little jealous I thought you should know"

"Just a little jealous?" It was slowly occurring to me that I was alone with Alex in my bedroom "I think we can do better than that" With one hand I tossed Guido onto the bed while the other pulled Alexʼs mouth to mine I had only a second to be shocked by my sudden forward behavior before his lips parted underaway all doubt and fear

It was the first ti the door or a broo me in the side Our kisses were slower and sweeter My hands lazily trailed over his face, neck, and ar at the smoothness of his skin and tautness of his ainst the pillows I froze up in a ," he assured me His breath arm and moist on my ear "Clothes stay on

Promise"

And he kept his promise, even after I decided it was a stupid one to ht actually burst into fla me to finally catch el asked her than normal The sound of it made parts of my body that I didnʼt realize were voice-activated come to life