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A fewshe’d received a text

Curiously, she walked over to the desk and picked up her phone The text was, rehieri

I’ what to type in response, another text arrived

Forgivea reply when she heard movement in the hallway Someone rapped on her door

Please letto the door She opened it a little reeted her with a hesitant s that his hair et from the shower but that he hadn’t shaved An attractive dark stubble covered his face and he was dressed in a white T-shirt and old jeans, his feet bare He was, perhaps, the ht she’d ever seen

“Is there a reason you’re knocking on ?” Her tone was colder than she’d intended

“I’m sorry, Julianne” His expression was suitably contrite

(It certainly helped that his eyes were bloodshot and his clothes were ru destined for the Salvation Army and put them on)

“You hurt me,” she whispered

“I know I’m sorry” He took a step forward “I reread your paper”

She put a hand on her hip “You knocked on my door to tell rinned “It reh your ”

Julia’s cheeks fla in her backyard in order to bring her dinner, as she greeted hi So important”

In his hand, he held the illustration of The Contention for Guido de Montefeltro “I found it on the floor of the bedroo it, but sonored the illustration that he’d left in her mailbox back in Toronto and searched his expression, instead He appeared agitated, a sharp worry visible in his eyes He ran his fingers through his wet hair

“I know you needed to get away froh Can I come in?”

Julia stepped back

He entered and she closed the door behind him

She crossed over to the couch and curled up on it, wrapping the old blanket around her shoulders

He watched herthat her body was now curved into a protective ball He placed the illustration on top of her computer and shoved his hands into his pockets

“I read your paper again I also went back to the Inferno” His eyes s yesterday I shouldn’t have”