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"No"

He opens his arms

I crawl inside and the well in ood and he s his jaw on the top of my head as I’ht "I’m sorry, Livvy"

"I’m sorry too It’s okay--my mom said she didn’t suffer, you know"

"But you are"

"Well, we had this thing I could tell her anything, and she would laugh but not in away, sort of like you do" I sniff "This wasn’t supposed to happen when I wasn’t here to even say goodbye"

"You can’t plan the bad things that happen They just do"

The next person in line sort of skims around hi glances, watching hi the tilance in , bodies, heat, flowers, and food floodall those faces it’s only , their well- fuzzy For the first time in my life I have been rendered speechless I’ over Callan during the reception at htly hilarious"

"It’s like a GQ parade here"

"Gina’s engage almost poked les her brows I alo up there and have a go at him

"Yes," I say If I sound possessive, it’s because I ales as I stand and walk around a while to avoid any conversation Callan stands with Saint and my brother Tahoe hasn’t taken his eyes off either of us Callan is watching htfully He starts coet to my feet and cross the room to meet him

"Olivia,"a little jolt as I see Callan still approaching He looks terribly big and terribly strong as he nears h all of a sudden

"Hey you" His voice is husky

"Hey you back"

He leans closer "Why is it you’re the most beautiful woman in the world, yet also the loneliest?"

"I’ into his eyes when ently drawsto wait to tell you, buteverything" She tucks my hair behind my ear, and I wait in silent dread for whatever it is she looks concerned about

"She left a note She asked me to leave it for you at the tree house"

"What?" I scowl, and suddenly I’I stomp outside Tahoe had reattached the ladder after stupid Jereh er safe in my eyes