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"Jellyfish?"

"Spineless," Armie clarified "Mo a lot of the same shit Russell does Your mom is" So many names ca Not like you are"

Bray laughed

"Hey, it’s true I see it All the guys at the rec center have seen it You’ve got more backbone and character than a lot of adults It’s only words, my words, and I know they don’t reat family loves you and wants you" God, that sounded hollow "And you’d still get to see yourhe didn’t know if she’d want to, if the foster fah to say no, or if the state would allow it "Listen, I’m here for you--and this time you damn well better believe it You came here to help me, so let me help you back Trust me a little, okay? We can take it day by day I’ve been where you’re at now, except that crazy stuff abouta rapist? My dad helped shore that up He knew the truth" Knows the truth Armie’s eyes burned "And still, for his own selfish reasons, he pushed the lie I’ to bury me for a few bucks"

Bray stared at him

"It’s the truth, so believe , and I’ain, that strained silence stretched out, taut and uncohter "Okay"

Armie released a cautious breath "Okay?"

Bray nodded "Okay"

A weight lifted off Armie’s chest His heart puht Hopefully Bray’s foster fao find irlfriend"

DISGUSTED, MERISSA LOOKED at her dead cell Figures The perfect way to finish off this very imperfect day

But then she smiled as she stuck the phone back in her purse and headed for her car She was going home to Armie, so truthfully, it was pretty darned aweso back, she spotted the stylish wo a recorder andfor her? Merissa quickly scanned the area Streetla Off in the distance, lightning flickered against stor on the street, others waiting for the bus, a few hurriedly walking by

Uncertain, Merissa turned to face her "Yes?"

With a coy smile, the woman said, "Rumor has it you’re hooked up with Ar star If that’s true, would youjust a few quick questions? I promise I won’t keep you"

Suspicions clamored "Who are you with?"

The woman moved closer "I wish I could say ESPN, but hey, we locals need love, too, right?" She held out credentials that claimed she wrote for the sports section of a community paper "I’ll keep it short and to the point, okay? Just five minutes, tops"

After the past few hectic hours, a headache pecked at Merissa’s brain and her neck and shoulders ached "It’s going to storm"

"If it starts, we’ll call it quits But you know Mr Jacobson has a lot of fans in the area They’d love to hear about him"

Of course he did Who could possibly meet Armie and not love him? "Wouldn’t it be better to talk directly to hiruntled client that had to be appeased and a surprise ain He’d claimed to have heard rumors about Armie and wanted her to let him "protect" her What a joke

It was bizarre, but Steve was ether