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He angled his head, eyes softening as he gazed at me "It’s the truth, E loose, streaking hotly down my face "I just announced it to everyone! It’s out!" I liftedto the hotel "Two hundred people know that now, thanks to you!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you! I wouldn’t have blurted it out like that if you hadn’t shown up If I hadn’t gotten so mad when Justin called you trash" I wouldn’t even have cootten it intoThat I needed to stop hiding That I could confront my past and be brave like Shaw

He stuffed a hand in his pocket, and I realized then that he ithout a coat He had to be freezing standing there, but he didn’t so much as shiver He just stared at me, his expression stoic "Is that it? You’reyou’ve been running from forever?"

"Yes! N-no!" I looked up at the winter sky as if I would find soray clouds scudding against the darker night Nothing

He was right He’d shaken me loose from my self-imposed cocoon Since I met him, all the old hurts had returned The fears I shouldn’t have co hiaze back down to hiing That’s what I felt at least Exposed and raw Like he could seethat needed fixing

"You can’t fix ht," I whispered

"Your fight is irlfriend hurts--"

"No I took several sliding steps backward, shaking ed "I’ the sight of his face as my words sank in His eyes seemed to dim "You’re scared," he said quietly

"Scared?" I scoffed "Of what?"

"Of anything real And e have is real You love rabbedme closer with both hands "You love me I know you do I know it because I can see it in your eyesin the way you look at me" He inhaled "It’s the same way I look at you"

"No," I bit out I couldn’t be so transparent Love was pain It was being out of control Like the hot led for ahim back I couldn’t resist He had that effect on le His ue traced the sea control again, I pushed hied the air in front ofhands into my front pockets

"I want you," he said starkly, the barest quiver in his hoarse voice "Me and you Together" He drew in a deep breath, his broad chest lifting "But I can’t chase you forever"

I nodded in understanding It was an ultiht, I couldn’t even conteht now

Without a backward glance, I walked away

Chapter 20