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"You got a tattoo With my initials on your foot" Drew shakes his head, his expression incredulous "Why didn’t you tellto have this conversation in front of my brother "It’s silly"

"It’s definitely not silly" He rushes towardto my feet I notice his jaw is red, it looks a little swollen, and I can’t believe my brother hit him so hard The element of surprise had definitely been in Owen’s favor "I love it"

"Your tattoo has so ht in front ofinto our backs but I ignore it "You wrote a poem for me, Drew"

"And you put my initials forever on your foot, Fable I think we’re both on the sah, because I don’t kno else to react Owen clears his throat, re me he’s why I’ hiht? After I get off work?"

"Yeah" Drew sood Want me to pick you up?"

"Yes, that sounds perfect" He leans in and kisses ht"

"You have a ride to work?"

"I can figure so at me over his shoulder one last time before he heads down the stairs and toward his truck

"What in the hell was that?" Owen asks when I drag him into our apart about?" I stick my hands in the front pocket of the sweatshirt and breathe deep, inhaling Drew’s scent God, he sain Might never want to wash it again either

Gross but true

"You’re seeing Drew Callahan? He’s your boyfriend?" Owen’s eyes are wide "This is crazy shit, Fabes He’s a total superstar Like, a college legend And you’re with hi on between us, but yeah I’h "I need to tellto shit a brick! Does Mom know?"

"No, no one knows I don’t want anyone to know yet" I want to hold Drew close and keep him ure out we’re actually a couple, things et a little weird

"Why the hell not? He’s awesohow he must’ve hurt you pretty bad to make you so mopey I’ve never seen you like that What happened between you two?"

"It’s too hard to explain" I wave a hand, dis to tell my brother any details "Besides, let’s talk about the fact that you punched hi My hand still fking hurts Sorry" I smack him on the head before he ducks out of my reach "I can’t believe I actually threw a punch at Drew freaking Callahan and he didn’t knock me out for it"

"I think he was too startled by the fact a little kid tried to kick his ass," I said wryly

Owen shakes his head "I’ to realize that?"

I rolla rerown up He’ll know the truth soo to breakfast?"

"Yeah, sure But how are we going to get there? We don’t have wheels Should’ve kept your boyfriend around and made him drive us there"

"We can walk to that little diner down the street It’s not too far," I suggest I need to talk to er to have him back in my life but I need to ease him into the chaos that is my imh, only to have it co doithin aI’ve felt a punched by Fable’s brother doesn’t faze th, I’ll give him that

I head back to my apartment and crash out, ht I can smell her, her scent fills h A job she needs to go to, a brother she needs to take care of I understand, I get it I’m just da me the opportunity to make up for all the stupid shit I did to hurt her

I drift off to sleep with her scent surrounding ing and I’m hopeful it’s her but it’s not

It’s my dad

Great

"What’s up?" I try to infuse some cheeriness into my voice but I’ What happened that he needs to calltalk with Adele last night," he says, his voice gri her name makes me sick "Yeah?" God, what could she have said? What did she tell his"

Daht we could have her out of our lives for good "Why?"

"She swears she’s never been unfaithful to me It’s all a bunch of vicious rumors spread by some women at the country club who hate her" Dad pauses, takes a deep breath "Should I believe her?"

"That’s not for me to tell you," I auto any part in his decision

Besides, I know she hasn’t been faithful to hi to throw up

"She’sback fro you and when I told her where I’d been, she freaked out Deht away So I went ho he would shut up

"She was crazed Like she couldn’t get enough of me I know you don’t want to hear it, but it was the best sex we’ve had in…years I don’t get it I don’t get her"

"She’s using sex to keep you with her, Dad" My voice is tight and I feel co all of these details Worse? I hate hearing that she attacked him after she knew he’d spent time with me

What did that ht of ht

"She probably is," Dad readily agrees "But if she keeps it up, I o yet"

He’s an idiot I want to tell him that, but I keep uess that’s up to you," is all I say in response