Page 86 (1/1)

"I thought Chandra was your friend," she says, her shoulders lifting faintly, a sht…I don’t know, that so back in est threat on the team Why would she helpfro the distance between us, until her gaze meetsGod

My dad is already starting in with questioning I kno his brain works He wants to talk to Chandra, question her, see if she had a sie of questions with short one-word answers They dated He didn’t assault her It’s different, though yes, inappropriate But my dad wants to talk to her anyway…see if there’s a pattern of abuse, of anger, anything he can have in his hip pocket It’s like I’ water, bubbles bursting all aroundto try toto deserve this," I say, standing up again and looking my dad in the eyes I walk over to him and put my hand on his chest "I love you, Daddy I know you’re just trying to fix this But I’ Not once And I’ the table Nobody follows me into my room And nobody checks on me for the next hour The space beyond my door is quiet, which means dinner is over and everyone either retreated to their spaces or went outside to talk aboutas I don’t have to be a part of it

Whenit’s Ty makes my lips stretch into a s irl who just had her hope stolen froot his Cookie back?" he asks, the giddiness in his voice er

"Thank the lord Seriously, I don’t think I could endure another round of ransoet him?"

"Rowe caved," he says

"Hmmmm, she…caved? That doesn’t sound very much like Rowe," I say

"What can I say, my charm won her over She was nohiine his face--I want to see his face "Oh, she also toldyou to come home with me So…"

I sit up when he says this Seconds pass, and I start to worry over what to say in response when he finally fills the void for er humorous "Ithe sleeve of his shirt up to ain I can almost convince myself he’s here--his s to visit Kelly toone--a thousand ile

"I don’t want you to…I don’t know…be jealous?" I’m embarrassed that he even says this "I know it’s not easy to hear about her I wouldn’t like you to have a Kelly"

"Yeah, well, lucky for you, all I have is a Cotterh

"I don’t like that you have that, either," he says, still serious

"I know Thank you," I say

"I’ to show her your pictures She wants to see what you look like I’ve been talking about you--kind of a lot," he says, and this tis, I hope?" I hold my breath

"Well, I mean I did tell her that you don’t like Leo She’s not too sure about that," he says

"Hey! I never said I don’t like Leo, I just haven’t been exposed enough," I say, sitting up and gesturing like he’s really here Ty has this effect; he brings y back, puts the life back in et a pass then Kelly will agree with h," he says