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"Hey," he says, getting up froood still, even if it gets a little bumpy for a while" He kneels down in front ofsome of the tears aith his thumb "And you want to kno I know that?" he asks, and I nod my head as more hot tears spill down my cheek "Because I’ivesether"

My arms instinctively circle him and pull him closer as I rest my chin on top of his shoulders "But what if it is her?"

His muscles spasm, but when he speaks his voice is calether"

"Can you… can you deal with it?" I wonder, looking him in the eyes I honestly don’t know, if it co his recovery If it is Delilah’s body, will he be able to handle it? I don’t think they were that close, but death is death It’s hard Painful And the weight of it groith each person who passes, and never fully lightens again Quinton’s lost a lot and I worry the weight of another death will push him down

"I think so" His voice falters, but he quickly recovers "I will for you… but Nova, let’s not go to that place until we know for sure, okay?"

I nod, reaching up and wiping soether, I lean back and look hiood at this You know that?"

He raises his eyebroith a look of disbelief "Well, if that’s true, then you can thank Wilson and his constant nagging words of wisdo the subject to a lighter tone "While I’m here?"

"Do you want toon top of s

"Of course You’ve been talking about him nonstop for a couple of weeks now," I say, but when he frowns, I add, "But you don’t have to introduce me if you don’t want to"

"No, I want to," he replies with reservation "It’s just that…" He scratches the back of his head "It’s just that it estures between us "You and I"

"It doesn’t have tomy disappointether as he holds aze "I’m not sure if I can do that Not when you’re here now" He shuts his eyes and his chest rises and falls as he breathes in deeply and exhales "Not after that kiss"

"I’h I’m not that sorry "I feel like I just put a ton of pressure on you by showing up here I should have thought this all through a little better"

He opens his eyes, honey brown and reflecting the light of the room I remember when I first as how empty they looked But now they’re different… he’s different--more alive "No, I want to be here for you… you’ve been there sowith a lost look on his face "Just tell me what you want to do and I’ll make it happen"

I consider what I want, but a lot of i it so Delilah will be okay, so I decide to settle on so simple "I want to see the city," I say "I’ve never been here before"

"How long are you planning on staying?" He gets to his feet and sits back down to eat breakfast

"I have to go back home tomorrow… I have to work the day after Christmas and I promised Lea I’d spend Christmas day with her"

I can’t tell if he’s happy about this or not, but then he so"

"Oh yeah? Where?" I dig into s

"It’s a surprise" Then he winks athim happyon right now, everything’s going to turn out okay

Chapter 13

Quinton

It’s strange having Nova here, but not as strange as I thought it would be In fact, despiteher by my side I wonder what thisas it used to

But the settled feeling leaves et onto a bus and head toward town to see the Space Needle I keep thinking how Lexi and I used to do this and how I shouldn’t be doing it with Nova, yet as I sit by her, holding her hand, I can’t see myself to put any sort of space between us

"Seattle’s a lot bigger than I thought," she says as she observes the city through theShe has her phone out and every once in a while she records the stuff around us, alanting to see everything through a lens

The city is extra busy right now, being that it’s the day before Christhts sparkle around s and everything seems to shine cheerfully

"It’s definitely no Maple Grove," I tell her, leaning over her shoulder to stare up at the buildings with her Her vanilla scent floods my body and I can’t help it, I brush my lips across the side of her head Just a soft kiss, to still the craving to smother her with passionate kisses

"It’s so tall and busy," she says, leaning intomirror… and all the Christmas stuff… I swear I can actually feel Christe, turning s inward in the seat when a lady on crutches co by "I even won an art contest with one of h school"

She turns her head and we’re so close our lips brush against each other "I want to see some of your sketches while I’m here Ones that you used to draw"