Page 21 (2/2)

"Because we moved away from him when my mom finally divorced him She met my stepdad a year later and we moved here with him for his job a year after that That’s how I met you By that tis Forher For leaving ht For teachingthe cops would only harm the church" She snorted "So by the ti abouteffect on me that I’d never knoas possible"

I shook rasp all this "I didn’t even knoas your stepdad, I’ve met hireat, and he’s great for ed a lot since she met my stepdad But you didn’t know because I felt closer to him than I did my real parents, and that’s why he adoptedlike she used to be, but I still don’t like being around her And that’s why I don’t like churches or cussing"

"Did he ever" I trailed off, not able to voice the rest of ht; she just wouldn’t stop until he did But once the cussing stopped, he was done And, obviously, I wasn’t about to make him mad"

"I’m so sorry, Pay, I’ll stop I swear I--I’ll try"

"Eli," she said on a laugh and tightened her arms around me "Don’t worry about it Like I said, it is more of a joke between us now Well, and Kristen too It’s not like I still associate those words with the person using theer, and e first o; now I just don’t find them necessary--unless you really make me mad for whatever reason" She winked

"I don’t kno you can joke about this"

"Because it stopped fourteen years ago" She shrugged like she hadn’t just blown ain Like she hadn’t just crushed this idea that rown up with the perfect life "Drink," she ordered, and handed me my coffee

"Yes, rabbed her empty coffee cup and the sandrappers "I can’t kiss you until we’re done with coffee and breakfast, and I really need to kiss you after that!"

I laughed loudly, took the lid off the cup, and leaned over to dump it in the sink "All done"

Her eyebrows slaet over it"

Grabbing around her waist, I hauled her small body back to ht between our bodies, her hand splayed againsters curled around the back of ed "Please just be the ainstaway frorabbed all the trash and threw it away before ?"

"To brushthem sound more like a question

My eyebrows rose and I scoffed "You’re not getting dressed"