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She frowned “Understand what?”

“That you don’t want to see me…like this anymore” There was a pause as he flinched “I know you probably hateyou It rong And it probably disgusts you After the trace fades, I’ll leave you alone I swear But I need to stay close to you now, just to be careful I don’t want you to worry The likelihood of an Aru you is sli in her chest again “Dawson, ould I be disgusted or hate you?”

He gave her a bland look

“What?” She shook her head

“I’m an alien” He said it slowly

“But you’re still Dawson, right? I et that you’re what you are, but you’re still Dawson” She paused, working up her courage to throw it all out there “You’re still the guy I like And if—if you still likedeal is”

He paused, and she was pretty sure he stopped breathing And she tried not to notice or get freaked out by it, because it so wouldn’t help anything right now

Dawson just stared at her

Ah, , too? “I mean, if you still like me? I don’t knohat kind of rules or—”

He’d crossed the distance between them so quickly she hadn’t even seen hi away, and the next she was in his ar arms trembled around her

She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on A lump formed in her throat Tears burned her eyes It dawned on her how incredibly lonely they had to be, living a a part of the deeply “You have no idea what this… in his crisp scent, she held hi,” he said, voice rough

“About…?”

“You Me Together Like going out together, being together” There was a pause, and then he laughed “Wow That was probably the lairlfriend”

Beth’s heart sped up La “You want to be my boyfriend?” He nodded, and her breath caasp “Well, you kind of have to be with rinned up at hihed, and his eyes lightened “Oh, black his head against her forehead “Seriously though, I want this—I want you” The earlier aardness was gone from his voice He was all intent and purpose now “More than I’ve ever wanted anything So, yeah, I want to be with you”

Nothing in this world could stop her smile “I really, really like the sound of that”

Bethany knew the truth, kne much he risked, but in his arms, he was and would always be Dawson

Chapter 12