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When we break apart, she doesn’t say anything She simply turns and hurries for the car as if she’s terrified out of her Godda withelse?

Chapter Ten

Clara

By the ti back to the motel, it’s past ten o’clock Pretty early co is lying down and shutting my eyes

That kiss took a lot out of otten how intense a kiss could be when it isn’t linked to sex or foreplay Kissing just to kiss usually hasbehind it That kiss Jax and I shared definitely ure out exactly what

Okay, who a I’ve just been living in denial My heart is about to get broken again I can feel it in the pit of o away

To distract hts, I send a text to Nelli When she doesn’t respond right away, I start to panic and end up calling her even though Jax is in the car withthat’s said I just keep thinking about all the tiht What if she got the door unlocked and ?" Nelli answers after four rings, sounding exhausted

"I tried to text you, but you didn’t respond" I turn toward the , trying to keep the conversation as private as I can

"That’s because I was asleep" When she yawns into the receiver, the two hour tiht back in North Carolina

"Oh shit, Nelli, I’ot how late it is there"

"It’s okay I needed to wake up and check on your ?"

"Good She even helped me bake a cake for Mr Garlifed and ith me to take it to him"

"You didn’t return with any roosters, did you?"

"Nope," she assures me "Well, not that I’lad everything’s going okay"

"Are you okay? You sound either tired or upset I can’t tell which"

"Tired," I tell her through a yawn "It’s been a long couple of days"

"I bet it has" She pauses "How’s everything going with the safeness?"