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A part ofuilt "Hey, Dad?"

"Yes, Erins in a way that causes ood

Oz

I WAIT ON the front porch while Ees and Olivia joins me She wears a top that’s more corset than shirt and a pair of painted-on jeans She must be scheduled for another MRI "If you don’t watch it that hospital in Louisville is going to be down an MRI tech Cyrus will be pissed that you’re dressing up for your s doesn’t hurt anyone It’s so people do when they feel alive"

All the happiness drains out ofthat is spreading and she’s dying

"You’re going to have to deal with this," she says "Withthe hile I was alive would help, but I don’t think it has with you"

"Are you having a stroke? Because you’re talking nonsense"

She chuckles at htheartedness fades "Why aren’t you living?"

"Speak English"

"While I love that E what Eli asked of you, I’ your life"

"If it wasn’t for Ehere with my thumb up my ass" I don’t want to have this conversation It’s one I avoid because I’ll be daears "You need to stop dropping clues to Emily about her past"

She flutters her eyelashes as if she could pass for a Southern belle "Why, Oz, I have no idea what you’re talking about"

"Sure you don’t Eli flat-out told o and tell her to hunt for Honeysuckle Ridge She’s asking people about it, and if she asks the wrong person she’s going to end up in deep shit that I can’t pull her out of"

Olivia ad topics that could harood job You’re tasked with protecting Emily, correct?"

"Yes," I say with exasperation "And you’reit harder"

"If you want to keep Emily out of trouble, then help her discover the truth"

My muscles lock up "You mean tell her what I know"