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Eli raised one eyebrow, but didn’t speak I think he was forcing hi around

"He said, ‘You loved hi He didn’t want to coh I ith hiuy who knew htness in my throat, I tried to stop the way my body wanted to curl in on itself "I was on my way to tell him I’d chosen him this afternoon when you stopped me, but after I left you, I went to the beach instead and sat there for hours When I finally got up to drive to his place, I still didn’t knoho I would choose, and I didn’t know until he opened his door"

Eli’s eyes hardened "What did he do?"

I ran h his hair to cal Heto you go away I knehen I looked at hi him could be easy But the way he made me feel didn’t compare to the way I’d instantly felt whole as soon as you were nearwhile I walked away from you because I’d known you wouldn’t be a part of my life He knew the second I realized who my choice was, and I know I broke his heart He heldtime, and he asked what made me decide"

"Did you tell him?"

I nodded and placed a hand over his chest "I said, ‘I can see a future with youbut I can’t see one without him’ And he and I both knew that if he was in , and I’m sorry I put you in this position, Paisley"

I cracked a tiny sh "It would’ve been a lot easier if you’d figured out you loved

"I told you before, you own my soul No one can touch a love like that"

He brushed back hair that had fallen in my face, and his blue eyes followed the ain "I don’t knohat I did to deserve your love, Paisley, but I’ently, he only pulled back enough to say, "I’ you as a shield froirls when I should have known that you were the only girl whoyou watch me with anyone else when it always should have been you I’ain"

"Stop!" I pled "Stop, Eli, I know you are But we need toyourself up over what’s in the past And I want to start a future with you"

"You don’t understand howto tell you," I begged, cutting hiued "None of this would’ve happened if I’d just told you a long tied things then You don’t know if our friendship would’ve been different We ht of it that way, and based on the look Eli was givingas you don’t try to take bla," he promised, and I narrowed etting ready to argue that too "That’s the best you’re getting, Paisley I’ve had to watch you cry nuuys up over you for a lot less than that"

"Guys as in plural?"

"Yeah" He breathed the word like that shouldn’t be news It was