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Houston doesn’t say anything as he pu off the side of his head until he drops to his knees unable to hold his balance any longer Houston reaches down to grab the collar of the guy’s shirt, lifting hi to say so I can’t hear him, but I see the fear in the faces of the others I know HoustonWith one thrust of his arain, then flexes his hand at the one now bleeding froo," he says, and I pick up my steps to keep up

We walk in silence until we’re close to ho a trail of drops on the sidewalk, and when he reaches into his pocket for his keys not thinking, he winces

"Fuck," he says under his breath, reaching around with his other ar his hurt hand

"Yeah, well that’s what you get," I say, shakingfor hi me that I still need a key ofaway fro the screen slao all Neanderthal for no reason, then I’lancing at his eyes, then back down at the lock on the door I jerkforHouston I Don’t Need Rescuing

"Un-fucking believable," hethe door If only he just did that in the first place I step inside quickly, and I hear the door sla to the steps, hearing the sound of his keys being tossed on the table

"Are you for real with this shit?" he asks as I reach the top step I steady myself, my hand on the banister, and I turn to face him

"If you could leave the lease paperwork on the table forand leave your rent check," I say, before turning and walking into round andtomy palms to my face, and in the quiet of the house, I hear the sounds of ination

Chapter 9

Houston

My knuckles are already showing the bruise I haven’t hit sohts I’d had with Carson, Paige’s ex whatever he eren’t as intense as what happened yesterday walking Paige ho those sounds, being disrespectful--so at his face, I swung hard

It felt good Though I felt a little…ee called ht it through much before I turned and went all ape-fist But I did sort of expect her to be grateful At least a thank you Certainly not the cold-ass shoulder I ended up with

I thought about just leaving e got ho fuck it But I didn’t want to leave her alone Not that she ca her out when Leah and e , because as proreement in the middle of the counter, a sticky note on the check that read I DON’T KNOW YOUR STUPID LAST NAME, SO FILL IT IN FOR ME I’lad I found this before e’s bite, not like I do

God, why do I?

I wrote in our stupid last name, then added a note to the bottom of her sticky and left it on her bedroom door

ORR MY STUPID LAST NAME’S ORR

PRACTICE WRITING IT ON THE THANK YOU NOTE

I DESERVE FOR DECKING THAT ASSHOLE

I went back and pulled it off her door a fewthat, either Maybe I don’t want Paige to read it Writing it was enough I felt better--for a minute I tore it into sot back downstairs, deciding to be an adult and just tell her rade school

"Morning, sweetheart! Leah up and ready?" My mom startles me fro person She’s really an every-tilee and…cheer…seeps fro people in all directions, nopeople