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He was happy He was going to live at home while he saved for a down payment on a house He would help out on the farm when he could, but his father’s hired hands see snificantly

As he unpacked his books in his new office, he found his Dante and Beatrice action figures Alas, the conored his repeated requests for a Virgil action figure

(Once again, their official position was that Virgil was not worthy of action)

He was just positioning Dante and Beatrice on top of his desk when he heard a knock

“Co around “The door’s open”

“Hi”

Paul turned fro in the doorway

In that instant, although he’d seen her a thousand tih he’d known her for years, Paul was struck by how pretty she was—her hair, her face, her eyes She was beautiful

“I thought you ht need some help”

“There isn’tmy books” He placed the empty box on the floor

Her face fell

“Oh Well, I didn’t et back to work”

She turned to go, and Paul’s heart plummeted into his shoes

“Wait”

He stood up and walked over to her, catching her hand in his

“It’s good to see you”

She sone for teeks”

“My sister needed help with her kids I only planned to be gone for a week, but you kno it is” She reached up and pushed some of his hair back fro the days”

“I missed you, too A lot”

They stared at one another for what see to take a break anyway How about I take you to American Flatbread for pizza?”

“I’d like that”

She ed on her hand

She looked up at hi his work-roughened fingers over her knuckles

“What?”

“Our first tiether Your skin smelled of roses”

Two patches of pink appeared on her face

“I didn’t think you’d remeet? To this day, every time I smell roses I think of you”

“I don’t wear roses anyrew out of them”

He reached up to cup her face in his hand

She leaned into it and closed her eyes

“Would you wear roses again? Forhis