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I stop directly where I am and watch as she sways those perfect hps back up his body Her eyes are still fixed on me, even when Eli puts his hands on her hps and pulls her body closer to hi because Jaylinn licks her lips and nods her head Eli turns inthat he knows I’racefully into ainst my chest I inhale deeply as the smell of her perfume swirls in the air around us

"Jay," My voice comes out husky

"Baby," Jaylinn purrs

Her body starts to sway toslowly co to slow things down for a fewoffairly well and I think it’s appropriate that I play it for the out Cole "Are Mason and Hailey here?" She asks, standing on her tip toes and looking around

I cup the side of Jaylinn’s face, co her dancing with Eli While I was gone I had walked over and asked if Manny could get athat meant just as much to Jaylinn and I as it does Mason and Hailey I know Jaylinn was upset that I was blowing her off but it’s what I needed to do, I just have to e part of my life and alill be

A piano is rolled out on the stage and Cole takes a seat behind it He hits the first few keys to "Changed By You" by Between the Trees, and Jaylinn looks toin it

Her ar her body flush against ht hand and places it on my chest, just over my heart, and rests her head on my shoulder

Our bodies sway back and forth as a hold her close "I know this is Hailey and Mason’s song but the words are fitting and I need you to understand how I feel about you" I kiss her cheek "You’ve been there for me when my life felt out of control back in school Classes and baseball were taking up all my time but you were always there Half the tied that you were there, but I knew You never h school, unless you had one of your own Even nohen I told you I was thinking of quitting you didn’t push ure out a way fora little courage to continue "When shit went down I blamed myself, I still do, but for some reason you’ve stuck around"

Jaylinn lifts her head and begs me with her eyes to understand that it wasn’t my fault "Cooper you aren’t to blame You couldn’t have stopped what alyou, you wouldn’t have had to worry about anything I feel like you left BU because of me You left your friends and teaian Court"

Before I can keep going Jaylinn stops er to my lips "I didn’t transfer because of you I transferred because I wanted to Nothing I wanted was in Boston anymore" The last part comes out more of a whisper

A s herself If I could have stayed in Boston she would have continued to go to school there The assle that caused all of this shit was no longer an issue because he was kicked out of school for reasons that she doesn’t know, but her mind was already made up

I claiue inside, sending a shiver of desire racing throughand talking We seemed to have lost Eli after their little show on the dance floor and that’s fine by me I’ll have to talk to that fker toirl

A feeeks ago, Mason and I went to jewelry store in thefor Jaylinn It’s a blue dia, a symbol of my trust that I will always be there for her She needs that fro in

Jaylinn didn’t want heralone so she slept at her house and is on her way over nooke up a few hours ago with doubt lingering over the gift that I had picked out, thinking she wasn’t going to like it