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"Just speaking the truth," I replied "You getting hungry?"

She nodded "I’ry"

"Glad to see your appetite is back"

"I don’t think anything could permanently affect my appetite"

"We can head back See breakfast" The as stronger here, tossing her hair across her face I caught the strands, s them back "If we h was hoarse, but it was thesound to hear I stared at her a moment and then started to head back but stopped "Can Ican I ask you so?"

Her hand was still inin my chest, and I knew this question could wait It should wait, but the idea of going anotherto drive me crazy

So I took a deep breath and opened myself up in a way I’d never done before "Do you still love me?"

Chapter 21

Josie

Stark vulnerability churned in Seth’s a that kind of question--that he even thought he needed to A tiny part of me wanted to punch hi if I said I wasn’t wary Seth had whispered his love towould be okay, but then he had left He’d shut ed the way I felt for him, and maybe that made me a little crazy, but the world I now lived in was insane

But I felt soso raw, inside and out

"I knohat you’re thinking," he said, his gaze searching hts"

"Thank God for that," I rin appeared and then disappeared "I’ve let you down" When I opened my mouth, he raised his hand "I have, Josie More than once I’veI’ve pushed you away I’vechoices I know I haven’t cooing to change that"

Oh

Oh

"You’ll never have to doubt ain," he said, voice low and deterain"

There was a swelling sensation in my chest like I was an untethered balloon that could lift off the ground and float away Tears blurredhere if I didn’t love you, Seth I wouldn’t have let you sleep in the saht if I didn’t," I said,"There’s a lot I don’t really understand right now, like, for exaet it You’re a god" Slipping ers "Yay! You seem the same--well, you’re more od or a norure out Like that whole feeding thing, because I a all super close with a woelina Jolie, and--"

Seth ister what he was up to until I felt his lips on asp It felt like an eternity had passed since the last tiers cradled ently moved over mine He appeared fully aware of the split in my bottom lip, and was careful to not injure it further His kiss was tender and so sweet, bringing a wave of fresh tears to my eyes My hands went to his chest, and I could feel his heart pounding underue touched mine

I was immediately lost to him--to the feel of his lips, to the touch of his hands, and to his taste I was lost and a part of ry sound as his fingers glided down ain," he ordered huskily