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"Look at him," she continued, hopelessly "Bad attitude, barely s secrets from me… He comes home with blood on his shirt, and that’s not the first tiht He saved ot attacked at the motel by some drunk"

She looked at me horrified "I told you that part of town is unsafe–"

"I didn’t think anything would happen to me"

"That’s always the way, isn’t it? No one ever does, and then they die and wind up dumped in some back alley" Clearly irritated at me, she shook her head "Did he kill hih uy over"

She nodded, fully aware and undisturbed by this news "Well, then, we ht as well just assume so" With a heavy exhale, she stood up and wrapped her ar as you’re safe, that’s all that ht kiss on the forehead "I love you, Sara Get some rest, okay?"

Too speechless to open my mouth, I just nodded

Seventeen

After Lucinda left round, letting the water flow endlessly down ether after tonight, but having a shoas different It was a time of reflection for h it was the last thing I felt

I changed back intoit down on the night table My lids ached from exhaustion, and for once I didn’t have to force s before I drifted off into sleep

The sound of the door creaking open woke ht sleeper I looked at the large figure in the doorway, and blinked again to clear the fogginess With the light streah the doorway, I watched Jaxon set my suitcase down beside my bed Still inside, he shut the door and walked to the bathroo absolutely no attention to me

He disappeared inside and then I heard the shower start I rubbedwhy the hell he was showering in as ht The shoent off and aopen He walked out naked and soaking wet and dived straight into uard by his close proxih voice

"Going to sleep," he answered as he sorted through the covers, yanking some off of me so that he had an equal share of the in here"

"You sure are"

I propped myself up on my elbows and looked over at him My eyes adjusted in the darkness and I was able to see his face well His eyes were closed, and he riggling a bit, trying to find a co finally with his back against the mattress and an ar to sleep, Sara It’s late"

"I’ to sleep, Jaxon, but why are you sleeping here with me?"

"I have a preference for this roorin on his face to knohat a crock of bullshit that was