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"You bastard," I said "This wasn’t supposed to a public display or a political tool" I was surprised, although I knew I shouldn’t have been The senator cared about the can supporters third

"It’s all a political tool All of it," the senator said "You Me Tanner Saood" I honestly think he believed that crap He releasedof his own Unlike the scoearing, Tanner was senuinely looked like he was enjoying hie were real

I’ry I couldn’t breathe I was angry atme, at Tanner for no reasonable explanation

My hands shook as I saw red

The senator waved to the crowd Nadine ca in oing to take hireat sense of when shit was about to hit the fan and I was glad for it

Because shit was about to hit the fan

I stepped up in bethereto the crowd and I added a wave of my own The senator looked atlike he’d just won the lottery and was accepting his giant check "It’s hot out here, isn’t it?" I said, leaning toward my father who furrowed his brow and then corrected hiative facial expression in public

"It’s Florida, during the summer It’s always hot," Tanner said before his eyes ide and the realization set in "Don’t," he warned, but I didn’t listen

"If you want to putto have to put all ofan and took it off My father didn’t find anything unusual about ht It was Florida, during the summer It was hot But he didn’t knoas underneath the cardigan He’d yet to see it I held asp from behind me that I assumed came from my mother

"Don’t," Tanner repeated, and this tiry I spotted a chair and turned to my father "Can I rest my sweater on that?" I asked hi worried

"Nothing at all, daddy," I said I turned an on the chair

The tattoo King had givenanyone could do My father could rush to cover me up but that would make it look like he didn’t approve He could address it, but that would make it worse I turned and shot them both a look that told them that I was not one to be fucked with With one last wave to the croas now gossiping airls, I left the stage

I walked along the property line to the back of the house, not wanting to deal with any of the party-goers thaton the ay from the back patio to the house

"What the heck was that?" Tanner asked, jogging to catch up to me as I passed the treehouse oak "What was that, Ray?" he repeated

I stopped and turned around to face hi stepped on! You said I could have time The look on your face in front of those people said you already think this is real But it’s not real Tanner Not to me I’m not ready And I may have loved you once, actually I know I loved you once, but I don’t even know if it was romantic love I love that you are kind to our son and I respect the hell out of you for everything you’ve been through, and I hate that I’ve hurt you But I don’t want to be with you like that right now Not when s elsewhere"

"What do you expect from me, Ray? To be sorry that I’m happy to be your husband? Because I’m not I’m not sorry I married you, whatever the reason You are the love of my life for Christ’s sake! Always have been We were always ether So, of course I jumped at the chance to announce it to the world, because it was always meant to happen" Tanner’s eyes softened and he took a step towardhis hand aroundout of his reach "Don’t"

Tanner ignored me and reached around ainst mine, and I just stood there and let it happen His lips were soft and warined that Tanner really was the one who I wanted, but instead of recalling feelings for hi in my mind Tanner opened hisonback For me to feel what it was he wanted me to feel But as we continued to kiss and his hands slid fro Beyond wrong