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Stunned, she listened to the words with a hope she needed to squash She opened herterrible and awful and cruel "What if it takes years?"

He rocked back on his heels "That’s okay You’re worth it" His eyes glittered "We’re worth it"

She stuck her chin up in the air, refusing to get lost in his pretty words "I don’t believe you Now leave me alone so I can enjoy my coffee in peace"

He handed her the envelope "This is for you I told Cal no grand gestures, but this was different I wanted to do this"

"You didn’t have to fix rumbled

"Yes, I did," he said softly "Because I want to take care of you"

He left her on the porch, si eo away like a normal man? She ripped open the envelope and took out the piece of paper

A certificate

A star has been chosen and named in your honor

Raven Bella Hawthorne

Ah, shit He’d naesture a man had ever made to her, but like the eneet all weak and soft and girly

Absolutely refused

Raven didn’t knohat to do

She sat on the leather couch in her living roo array of ea her for al frustrated The open affection and love glowing froive in and surrender But the raw pain of his brutal rejection still ached

He sees with an ease he’d never shown before There was noHe told her every day with actions and words what she o

Was it enough? Was it tiht her?

Raven reached for her cell, dialed the faet an answer The voice that came on the line was one she both trusted and adrumble reminded Raven of all the times she’d tried to rouse Izzy before noon, ether

"I’m in trouble"

She heard the rustle of "

"It’s a guy"

She gave a snort "Duh It’s always a guy Dalton? I thought it was over"

"I did, too"

"Tell ," she repeated

Raven did She spilled the whole story about the letter, Dalton’s never-ending crusade to win back her heart, and her own struggles to trust again Izzy did what she did best She listened

When Raven fell silent, her spirit lightened Nothing like unloading on your best friend for a quick therapy appointlad you learned about your dad, babe Do you feel better?"