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"You’re nervous," he said

"Mm-hm"

"You’re nervous a lot," he pointed out

"Yep Anxiety All my life"

"I see Are you nervous she’ll say yes or no?"

I paused "Both"

He nodded once, as if that e?" I asked "Your father said mine was unusual"

Kaidan pointed to the red starburst on his chest "Yours is not a solid color like everyone else’s It’s amber, like the color of beer, but it has a swirl of white through it"

"Great," I whispered, renewing s, too And of course mine would have to be weird I couldn’t see it in the es didn’t reflect

Patti came back out after ten minutes and sat across from us in the recliner

"Would you prefer to speak in private again?" Kaidan asked

"That’d probably be best" Patti motioned him toward the balcony "Do you mind?"

"Not at all" He stood up and let hilass door onto the balcony Our eyes rinned noncoaveto lie, honey," she began "I’o You haven’t made the best decisions lately I’ve sheltered you and protected you, and it’s made you naive in so many ways--not just about dee of your sweet nature I trust you, but you’re going to be faced with a lot of hard choices It’s essential yousaid, I don’t think Kaidan is going to be one who tries to take advantage of you I’ to leave this up to you, Anna If you’re not coether in a couple months It’s your decision"

She sat in the wooden rocker froainst her cheeks, watching ray aura of nervousness

My decision I felt woozy Being stuck in a car with Kaidan for days, being overnight with him--it hat I wanted least and most in this world I couldn’t help but think there was so to coued We could get to know each other If nothing else, it was a way to see my father and Sister Ruth, sooner rather than later

So that was it I’dKaidan in

We sat back down on the couch across fro it up to Anna," she explained

As if he doesn’t know All eyes were on o," I told them

Patti turned on Kaidan then with a mother’s ferocity

"I know I’ happens to her while she’s with you--"