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"No" Chloe sniffed "I lied The night of own, I did have a dream I dreamed about Arizona It was so incredibly real and passionate I didn’t knohat had happened I couldn’t really believe the fa but a joke I was eht it was stupid That’s why I didn’t tell you Then when I saw him on the television, I was so stunned, I didn’t knohat to say Since then, everything has been out of control I’m confused and scared and I’ "I see You didn’t trust me"

Her words and her stiff posture screaut doubled in size "I knew you’d be upset You have every right to beexcept I was stunned by what had happened"

Cassie didn’t look at her She shook her head back and forth, ht

Chloe stretched her hand across the table and touched her sister’s fingers "I never meant to hurt you You are my closest friend in life I was very upset by what had happened and I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it"

At last Cassie looked at her "Besides, I was the one so excited about the legend If I’d known you’d dreamed about Arizona, I wouldn’t have been able to keep the inforine if I’d blurted it out that first night he was here for dinner"

"It would have given us so to talk about"

Cassie nodded "I understand, Chloe I’et over it Let’s talk about you and what happened You dreamed about him, and then you " She quickly explained about going into work that nment Everywhere she went, pictures of thethe scar on his ar out he had the same scar

"How did you know about the scar?" Cassie asked "What was he wearing in the dream?"

Chloe cleared her throat She could feel herself blushing "Nothing We hed "No wonder you were stunned the nextout your fantasy lover is a real person to get your day started"

"Exactly It was so spooky You know I don’t believe in the legend I’m a reporter I want to be able to prove htened me"

"Plus you wouldn’t want Arizona to know toothe mystic You couldn’t be sure what he would end once he found out he’d been the subject of your dream"

"Exactly"

Cassie took a drink of her cocoa, then placed theon the table and cupped it with her hands Her eyebrows drew together "I still don’t see the proble well I think you like hi it was lovely So why are you so upset?"

"Because it’s all too strange Yes, we get along and have fun together The sex was a" She didn’t want to think about that, about how she’d felt when he touched her "That’s not the point It’s more complicated I refuse to fall in love with anyone ever I won’t let ht believe in myths and stories, but he doesn’t believe in love, romantic or otherwise He’s the kind ofthe world While I want to travel, I do also want to settle down and make a home Eventually"

"You already have a home" Cassie waved to encompass the kitchen and the entire house beyond "You have roots You’re froht, but Chloe heard the envy in her sister’s voice She never knehat to say about that--about the fact that she’d inherited the house

Cassie shrugged "Where you settle isn’t important So he wants to travel, possiblythat for generations How do you thinkI want to do"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I refuse to love hiet involved with anyone We’re friends and we had a great ti?"

Chloe couldn’t answer the question Nothing made sense She wanted to explain about the helicopter and feeling tricked, but she’d had time to think and she didn’t believe Arizona had deliberately set out to deceive her She’d overreacted Probably because she was feeling a little overwhelmed by her reaction to him

"I don’t knohat to think Maybe if we hadn’t s would be more clear" She rested her elbows on the table and cupped her head in her hands "I feel like I’ht up inside a tornado Every tiain Just when I get that all figured out, I’ain, with no control overin love with him"

Chloe sucked in a breath "No," she said firnored her "Of course it is You’ve cut yourself off fronize the symptoms Why else would any of this matter?"

"It’s not that"

"What else could it be? You’re worried about what theand how rateful that he was leaving and that you would never have to see hiain Instead it bothers you You want to find a way to blend your lives That’s what loving someone is all about"

"No I don’t love him I don’t want to love him I don’t want to love anyone"

Noas Cassie’s turn to reach across the table and touch her hand "Yes, you do Chloe, it’s tis for too long I o I have theyou’re going to have, so love fully You learned not to trust theotten over that if Billy hadn’t died and you can’t forgive hi He was your first love I reet well, and you believed hiht years and you’re still mad at Aunt Charity It’s not her fault that she wasn’t in the country when her brother was killed Was she supposed to live next door all those years, just in case?"

"Of course not" Chloe knew her voice was stiff, but she was having trouble speaking past the tightness in her throat "I’ers squeezed her own "That’s not what I meant You’re a wonderful person and I love you very much But sometimes, you’re so stubborn I just want to shake soo Look forward for once Don’t lose this wonderful opportunity with Arizona When are you going to ain?"

"You make it sound so simple"

"It can be, if you let it"

Chloe looked at her sister She wanted to believe her, but she couldn’t Cassie was right--after nearly eight years, she was still angry at Aunt Charity The woman should have known that her brother had died There was no excuse for staying out of contact for more than three years If not for her, Chloe and Cassie wouldn’t have been sent to foster homes They wouldn’t have been separated She wouldn’t have met Billy

Chloe stiffened She wouldn’t have met Billy Was that what she wanted? To never have known hiretted his death It had hurt to love hi to die, she wasn’t sure she would have wished him out of her life She’d learned a lot fronity She’d learned about giving her whole heart and she’d learned about pain