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“Your dog?”

“Tiot killed” His Ada that ain”

“Oh dear, that’s so sad” Piper i happened to her And then how tender Matt had been around the aniave hiether”

“Stepfather of the ”

“Oh”

“I buried hiood Not a smart move for a sixteen-year-old, but I turned out okay in the end Financially”

Piper stared at the ice crea into pink and white soup under the halogen lauess”

He sood idea”

“So you’re really leaving on the sixteenth?”

“I’ Are you mad at me for that?”

Was she? There was a fist-shaped ball in her chest and she felt sick as she tried to form a coherent answer She wanted to look hiain after the beer launch because that hat she really wanted to know But it was a question she couldn’t ask It would be so needy of her that he’d run a et those last eight days of being with hiht days with hi, she suddenly realized, and the truth made her feel weak and hopeless She was in love with hi to leave her like he left everywhere and everyone in the end

“It’s your life, Matt,” sheto live it”

“The dancing has started back there if you’re interested,” he said and reached out to take her hand

“Actually, I’o as soon as it’s polite for us to leave”

A slow smile parted his lips “Sounds like a plan Our suite is exquisite You should come and see it”

“Our suite?”

“Yeah, why not? All part of the wedding of the year exploitation experience, so to rooers for so long A refuge from the relentless cameras Because publicity is the only reason we’re here”

“I thought the groom was your buddy”