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He wasn’t going to let up about this I had to shut this down Until Maggie was ready to talk, I wasn’t going to let anyoneand looked at him "She isn’t ready It’s how she deals Let her deal with things the way she needs to I won’t let anyone push her Not even you," I told hi there

It was alie slid heropen for one to the bluff and sat up there for a few hours When Mo horande, and I had left without answering her She hadn’t been there for us before, and she had no right to interfere with o to sleep Told her I’d be home soon, that I was at Brady’s That was the truth I was at Brady’s I just wasn’t here for Brady I think she probably knew that, but she didn’t ask

Maggie stood in the y sweatpants tied at the waist and a tank top Her long hair was in a messy knot on top of her head, and she couldn’t have looked more beautiful I’d missed her this afternoon I always missed her when she wasn’t with ht about it too much I didn’t want toto lose Maggie I wouldn’t let that happen I would make her want to stay with me I’d be whatever she needed me to be

"Hey," she said softly

I grinned "Hey"

Closing the distance between us, I reached for her and held her close toa kiss to her lips She had great lips

She laughed against h often But when she did, it was like ic "What’s so funny?" I asked, unable to keep the incredibly pleased shter off o," she said

I shook o That is not a few It’s a fucking long tiether, and her eyes danced with laughter She wasn’t wearing any makeup Her face ashed clean I loved that she had knoas co over and didn’t fix up She was just her, and she was co You have the gaht," she said as she placed a hand on onna sleep Here with you I’ll set ht I want to hold you"

Her eyes sparked with pleasure Thatabout Not in her house Not where Boone was so close to us

I glanced over at her bed and could see she had already been in it tonight I hadn’t texted her I was coo I wondered if she’d been asleep then Seeing her covers ainst ie gie slipped her hand into otten h this last month Four weeks Tomorroould have been exactly one month since I kissed her at the field party She’d co to lose th to make it And she’d shown me I could She had reminded me that I wasn’t the only person on earth to lose a parent

Maggie pulled the covers back on hten her sheets Seeing her like this, being here with her like this, s that should be for uy to see her dressed like that on this bed Just uy’s hand Ever Just ie whispered, a playful smile on her lips