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I stand there, not knohat to do She’s giving off a weird vibe I know she’s upset and she has every reason to be Not only did her mom pull a really crappy move Owen blames her for it

Her back is to o to her so bad But I’ to bed?" she asks, her voice soft

She justoff the bedside la if I should reach for her

I decide to stay oninstead, my ar, and I think she ht’ve already fallen asleep

"Drew?"

Guess she’s still awake "Yeah"

"Thank you for letting us stay with you" She rolls over to face azes meet "You didn’t have to do that"

"What the hell?" I’m irritated Does she think I’ll let her deal with this on her own? "Of course I had to do that Where else would you two go?"

She shrugs one shoulder "I would’ve figured so out I bet Colin would’ve taken us in I hear he lives in a freaking mansion I’m sure he has plenty of room"

Fuck uy was a total dick toon with her, and now she’s saying she would’ve moved in with him like no problem?

"I don’t want to inconvenience you," she continues "First thing to"

"Why do you do that?" I ask,But damn it, I’m pissed "Why do you act like you never want h for anything?"

"Seriously?" Her voice rises "When have you ever coh? I can’t count on anyone No one I’ve always taken care of myself I’m not about to become dependent on you now"

"Why the hell not? We haven’t been together long enough for h But I’ I have to try to help you and you act like you could give a shit" My blood is boiling I’ me like this A voice inside loves are co off I need to tell her how I feel before I explode and really lose my shit

"I said thank you," she whispers

"Yeah, like I held a gun to your head and forced you to say it," I return, flicking ain

She’s quiet, I hear the rustle of the sheets and colance at her out of the corner ofA sob escapes hers and she slaps her hand over herProbably over how I just yelled at her, like I’ her inher arainst my bare chest Her tears dampen my skin as I smooth her hair away from her forehead I whisper soft words of co how despondent she sounds She’s crying hard, her entire body shaking I fear her heartin two

"I--I don’t knohat to d--do," she sobs "I can’t believe she left us with nothing That she didn’t tell us she was leaving"

"It’s going to be all right" I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, run er down the side of her throat "I swear, I’ll help you hatever you need"

She takes a deep, shuddering breath "It’s not that I’rateful I just…I don’t kno to do this Accept help from someone I’ve always carried this load on my own It’s hard to believe someone wants to share the burden"

"Whatever I can do to help, I’ht away" I slip er beneath her chin and left her head up Her cheeks are streaked with drying tears and black s beneath her eyes She never washed her face and she looks so lost, so pitiful I lean in and brush a soft kiss to her lips "Take your tiood place for you and Owen to live"

I’d rather they stay withher brother living here with us would be…uncomfortable at first, but Fable is literally all he has

"Okay" She nods, as if she’s trying to convince herself "Okay, you’re right I do need to take my time and not pick the first apartment that’s available" She closes her eyes, presses her lips together "I don’t have any furniture She took it all Even my bed! I’ve had that stupid bed for years It’s not even that coain "She’s crazy, baby Bat-shit crazy for taking everything like she did, and so quickly too I honestly don’t kno she did it"

"I don’t know either It makes no sense" Fable opens her eyes "She o but then she goes and pulls stunts like this and I’ether exactly why it happened"

"Stop thinking about it" I kiss her lips one more time, then drop a kiss on her cheek, her nose, her forehead "We’ll worry about it toet so closed and she squeezes her arms around me "I’m sorry"

"I’m the one who’s sorry I shouldn’t have yelled at you"

"I think I needed it" Her voice is already fading and she nuzzles her face against ood, Drew I love you"

My heart eases I’m reassured by her sweetly spoken words "I love you too"

Chapter Eighteen

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Drew

"So she’s moved in with you"

"It’s temporary," I’ What everyone will think, though it’s not like I know a ton of people We’retoo fast, Fable and I

But it’s been almost a week since her mom abandoned her and Owen I just can’t kick her out They have nowhere to go Besides, I like having Fable living with me Owen and I have coest fan, but the kid is polite, keeps his rooive ood kid Fable’s raised hi hoorried she is that I’?"

"For the most part" I can’t lie to her "There was tension at first,from Owen He’s hurt that their mom did this"

"Understandable"

"He blamed Fable at first"