Page 66 (1/2)

"And then we came here to live We moved around in those days, stayed a year or two at a distant relative’s home, had our own apartment for a while Then we lived with family friends after we lost that place when the rent went up And, as I told you, I met Brock and fell in love when I was a teen" I sniffed

"Mao back--‘come home, it’s time,’ she’d said But I couldn’t because it wasn’t home I’m no more Bosnian now than I am German or Canadian Brock was here, and Maive up the chance to live withand in love that nothing else mattered So I hurtto be together I was counting on that until…" My voice faded as eain

"Until he died"

"Yes People seem to do that around

"What, do you think you’re cursed or so?"

I took a deep breath and let it out in a shivery hiss "I should have been the one driving hione to a party and there was drinking But I was tired We argued and I told hi home to sleep I was sober I could have driven hiot a ride ho too much I…I wasn’t there for hiical to bla that you could not have predicted No one can know the future"

"But I knowstarts to becoet nervous…itchy" I stifled a sob and sniffed back ed my throat just as quickly "I lived with Brock’s family for a while after he died I was depressed, but soo to college, until his et on with hed heavily "There’s a legend in randma--used to say we had Gypsy roots The Roma are wanderers They have no home, and sometimes I feel this connection to that part of myself Like I was never s in my life happened to teach et the past when things are painful Or at least try to forget it"

I looked at hiht, so rare from him Did he speak fro away?"

"I think that so about themselves so much that it beco unworthy A person can believe hiht"

"Maybe we’re more alike than you think" My mouth quirked into a semblance of a smile "Despite the fact that I’ainst you," he said with a sly soodness"

He softly stroked ed "Maybe" But if so, why did I feel e the usual excite on

"I want you to stay, Jenna I want you to be with me"

I raised a brow and looked up into his face "You mean like, sex and stuff?"

"More than just that We could…have a relationship"