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She handed ot your way last night, so I’rin crossed ainstthe sandwich back on the island, I turned her around and bent down to look directly in her eyes "Did you enjoy it, yes or no? Because if you didn’t, tell ain"

Her cheeks flushed again and she looked away for a second "I did, I just--I don’t kno to feel about the fact that I did Like I said, it’s eed her "It felt good for you, and I loved watching you come undone in ," she rabbed for her own sandwich

"You’ll beg for it one day," I assured her

"Eli!"

"What?"

"I would really like to eat, and I’ about that"

I was glad she couldn’t seeup my food, I unwrapped it and held it in front of her for her to take the first bite before taking ?" I asked when I’d finished ainst the island, and just raised an eyebrow as she chewed

"Why do you get on ?"

Her expression fell and she worked at sing as she turned and grabbed for her coffee

"When ere younger I thought you were a prude, but then as we got older I thought it was justjoke for us It wasn’t until you cussed at ht itif there was a reason"

She laughed hesitantly "It is more of a joke now, but I still don’t like it" I stood there waiting for her to continue, and after a couple ed "My dad was an alcoholic It wasn’t like he’d drink every night, thank God But twice a week h to put ten one out to buy, he’d finish all of it every ti ourat hi, and she knew itbut she’d keep throwing out words like she was goading hi Because he’d just yell louder and louder, telling her to stop cussing until he started throwing things at her or hitting her And he’d hit her until one of them was unconscious"

"Paisley," I whispered, horrified "How did I not know about this?"

Her brown eyes darted up toabout all this? He’s a pastor, or was; I don’t knohat he’s doing anymore I haven’t seen him since I was eleven At church on Sunday ere the picture-perfect faet the itch to drinkhe’d go a fens over to a liquor store and it would start all over again I think that’s why , because she felt like she couldn’t just leave a hts a week and leave us without any moneyshe wanted to be able to say he was abusive So in the Bible" Paisley rolled her eyes "They were so hypocritical"

Grabbing loosely onto her forear hers and pulled her into my chest "Why didn’t you ever tell me?"