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"We still have an audience," she whispered against lanced to the side to see Keith standing there, waiting patiently "Right Time to put distance between us then" I cleared lanced back at Charlie "Uh, well this whole thing was supposed to be for you today But I walked in just in time to see you hit your brother So tell me what you want to do"

Her face pinched in pain and her eyes fell to her lap "I want to go home"

"You want to walk instead of talk it out with hie would have known about you, heourfear, and he threw it in her face on a day that was supposed to be one of the happiest for her

"I’m one of those mistakes," I assu away again

I nodded once and grittedI told him I wouldn’t hit him, I’m ready to leave whenever you are"

"Now"

I stood and pulled her up with ratulations, Charlie Girl"

Chapter Sixteen

Charlie

June 26, 2016

MY EYES SLOWLY blinked open, and for a moment I stilled as I tried to reainst the body holdingain But I also didn’t want to miss this

Because this? There were no words for it

Deacon had co out, and we’d curled up on otten later and later, he’d stretched out his large fra on top of hi the blush that had filled rabbed my book off the table and tucked e arms around me

Just as I had then, I felt protected and cherished and like nothing could touchcould find me under the barrier of his arms I wanted to hide in the safety of his arms forever

My eyes zeroed in on the book still in my hand, facedown on Deacon’s chest, but I didn’t ain

This was more perfect than any love story I could read

This ers twitched against the sainst the little piece of skin showing there, fro breath slipped past my lips as they eased into a smile