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I breathed out A wave of relief rushed throughthis all out I’d bottled it up for so long

A silence fell between us

"I-I didn’t know that you loved ave ht you were deliberately keepingme as your friend I remember one time--perhaps that was the first time you had intended to ask me out--you had come to meet me outside the school, and you had wanted to take a ith me down by the lake Do you remember that?"

I nodded Of course I did That was the first attempt I’d made But Ben had called froht have said so then," she continued "But the fact that you didn’t convinced ivenother than a friend, I was afraid to voice what I felt for you, because I didn’t want to ruin e had But now, it just seems that you were afraid… as I was"

I ran a hand down s for me even then

"It’s unfortunate, Adelle" I said "But I didn’t come here to just discuss the past I came here because I need you to understand that… I’m with Kailyn I haveslowly

"Eli is heartbroken," I said "You two seeether Why don’t you return to him?"

Adelle blew out a breath "I told him that I needed so him I do still love him It just didn’t see these feelings for you It felt like I was deceiving hi on him somehow It was dishonest Before I can move back in with him, I need to sort myself out"

I nodded "That makes sense, I suppose But I do hope that you will return to him"

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a tissue, wiping a tear that had spilled down her cheek Then she gave ood to talk I-I can’t pretend that I don’t still hold feelings for you, but soer hiding things"

"I agree" I stood up "And I hope after all this, we’ll be able to resuup too I headed for the door and opened it I stepped down onto the porch, looking up at her once aze for a few moments Then she stepped down, touched my forearm and planted a chaste kiss on ainstto rew rosy "I hope you didn’t est tiht in my throat I backed away down the stairs "Goodbye, Adelle"

"Goodbye, Aiden"

Chapter 38: Derek

Now that the rest of our council hter had returned fro in the Great Dome