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"Things are good with us, Mason" I finally say, willing h Jaylinn is a little pissed that you didn’t say anything before"

He winces because he knows it’s true Keeping his mouth quiet alets it, I know he does

"That’s good" Mason turns the radio down a little bit "So the only one left to tell is Hunter then?"

"Yeah," I nod in agreeo over well" "Bro, you didn’t know" Mason defends, trying to help me out I wish it ht of Brittany nowlike Hunter and Jaylinn Thankfully it was just a one night stand and- just a drunkenthe conversation

I turn my head towards theand watch as the cars pass on the other side of the highway

I knohat Jaylinn wants She wants to letis I already do, so much I just can’t love her in the ways she needs ined it would be

3

Hailey waddles her little basketball of a belly into the living room and sits in the brown oversized recliner, "So"

I look over at her and s for her and looks beautiful for being four nant She bitches and complains but I know deep down inside she loves it "Are you really ok with Cooper?" She narrows her eyes at me, "Don’t bullshit me either, Jay"

I look down to my hands and nod "How can I not be? He didn’t know"

"Look at me," Hailey says sharply I snap my eyes up to hers, "I’m serious Jay Are you okay?"

I hold her stare for just ato hold back the tears, knowing that deep down I’m really not okay with it "It’s in the past; I have to be okay with hi with my half-sister but not with me" It ca real to myself I’m hurt I’et up off the couch and go squeeze on the recliner with Hailey She puts her ss me to her and it’s then that the tears start to fall

"Shh, it’s alright sweetie" Hailey croons to h er It’s such a si too

"I don’t understand, Hailey" I say between shuddering breaths, feeling hopeless "He’s holding back with h to hih ood to let it out but I’ on to that one piece that I don’t want to share with anyone Deep down inside I think that’s what is holding Cooper back

How can I talk to Hailey about this if I don’t want to relive that night again? No one knows but Cooper, me and that piece of shit, Kevin