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Glancing at the alarm clock onand I sit up, scratch the back ofon the bedside table, taunting rab it, push the button to see if anyone called or texted when I see it A text from Fable and it says one word

Marsho Hours Feeling like a complete asshole, I practically trip overmy keys off the dresser I should text her back, but that’ll take too much time and I’ for hours The thought of disappointing her…

I can’t stand it

I leaverain, climb into my truck and take off The streets are pretty much empty, I pass only the occasional car and all I can think about is Fable Maybe I should’ve called her What if she’s in real trouble? What if she really neededlot in record tiet out ofher aparto

Dairl for only seven days She’s becoe, I’ve probably becohtmare

I bound up the concrete stairs to her second story apart loudly and I knock on her door al in short spurts, the rain dripping down ain What if she’s not there? Da out my phone, I’m just about to when the door cracks open, the safety chain in place

Relief floods h the narrowly open door, wearing only a thin, oversized T-shirt and nothing else All I see is long, shapely legs and tousled blonde hair

My body instantly reacts

"What are you doing here?" Her voice is sot your text" I swipethe raindrops away

"You’re two hours too late" She’s about to shut the door but I wedgeit open "Go away Drew"

"Fable, listen to me I fell asleep I’ve been asleep for hours I woke up not even fifteen e, I hopped in my truck and sped over here" I spreadrain across et to you"

"So what?" Her flippant tone irritates h h I probably deserve the attitude

"Come on" I scratch the back ofokay with your ?"

She frowns "No eencies We’re fine"

"Good" My heart eases a little and I rub et it I justafter seeing that text, I had to make sure you were safe"

I ease my foot away so she can close the door and turn, ready to leave when I hear her speak

"Dreait"

Slowly I turn back around to find she’s opened the door all the way, allowing me to fully see her And fuck, she’s so beautiful Her face scrubbed coeous hair a wavy mess that tumbles just past her shoulders The T-shirt only hints at her curves, but I know exactly what she looks like beneath it and ers itch to take it off of her

"Yeah?" My voice cracks and I clearher close brings her into h problems on her own She doesn’t need mine to royally screw up her life

"Could you…will you come inside and stay with me?"

My heart stills, literally skips a beat and I take one step forward, ready to leap at this opportunity Despite the warnings going off in h for her, I don’t want to turn her away

I can’t turn her away I’m drawn to her I have to have her At least one ood It would be in her best interest that I stay out of her life, no matter how selfish I want I am I want to keep her with me

Forever

"Where’s your mom?" I ask, my voice deceptively casual

"With her boyfriend"

"And your brother?" I sinkat it I’ away fro her inside and tearing that shirt right off her tight little body so I can have her nad and beneath ht at his friend’s house" She opens the door wider, a clear invitation she wantsrained on"

She’s right I a that covers her front door, I’ drenched And it sucks

"Are you sure you wantbehind ets it