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"You would?" I whisper

"Anything for you"

I hug hiain and watch as he stands and walks over to the door "Get so"

"Thank you, Max"

He flashes me a smile and then closes the door

And I cry myself to sleep

CHAPTER 19

NATE

I jerk theup as quietly as I can I’ waves that seem to drown out most sound around us A war the curtains to whip furiously I use s in, sh I leave theopen as I throw the curtains aside and stare at the sleeping form on the bed

Her

Avery

She’s curled onto her side, her eyes clenched tightly shut She doesn’t look peaceful; she looks hurt Her blond hair is lying over her shoulder, and her arms are tucked up under her face I walk over and stare down at her, knowing I shouldn’t be here, knowing I should turn around and leave, but I can’t She’s consu

I know exactly horong it is I should go home and just leave Lena; I should move on and then maybe I’ll have a chance with Avery, but it’s never that easy If I leave Lena, I’ Macy Not to al battle would be huge I can’t just walk away I can’t do this I can’t accept that this is where I’ve truly ended up but here I a to

I reach down and I stroketo her back I keepa moment to stare at her and paint a picture in my memory that no one can ever take away from me No matter what happens, I’ll always have it; it’ll always be a piece of myself that can re er over her full, sweet lips

She turns into htly I tip her botto the warmth of her mouth on my thumb Her eyes flutter open, and I see the moment she becomes alarmed, because her eyes widen and she opens her mouth to scream