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"Well, I don’t recall asking you for your opinion," she snapped back at hi her boyfriend You don’t have to ask It’s e to protect her from harnore his co, and I expect you to be ready when I get there"

I took a step closer to Jackson, gathering strength fro, Kathy You can show up atIt won’t do you any good because I won’t even be there I’ll be over at Jackson’s place instead So if you really want to spend time with me, then you can pickwith us"

"But be prepared to be nice to Kaylie or it’s not going to be a pleasantto be your attitude, then I guess I’ll just go back home earlier than planned But I have to tell you that I am even more disappointed in you than I hen I watched you dance earlier, Kaylie Not only have you wasted your talent by going here, but it appears that you’ve decided to follow in your mother’s footsteps and allow a man to dictate your future," she shot back ataway

I watched s I was happy that I’d stood up to her again I was angry that she’d given me yet another reason to need to be firm with her in the first place And I was sad because it felt so final, like this was the end of our relationship Even though it was a strained one, she was still faet past our issues and be close to each other Ifamily in my life, but I didn’t think that eable

"You okay, baby?" Jacksonworried

"Not really, but it’s not like there’s anything I can do about it to s better unless I want to totally cave and do everything she says exactly when she wants me to do it And I just can’t do that"

"I’m sorry I didn’t really make the situation any better I think I ized

"No, Jackson," I reassured him "That was all her It really wasn’t about you If you hadn’t been here, one much better In fact, I was happy that you were here to take my back I liked hoe felt like a team I’ve never had that before, and it’s kinda awesome"

Jackson smirked at me "A team, huh?"

"Yeah, definitely"

He tilted his head like he was considering the idea "I like the sound of that"

"And teaht?"

His teasing expression i is i to be a tea was going on, so I ht I’d been "When we’re done here, we need to go souy ever wants to hear

Jackson didn’t look too worried though "I will always have ti you want to talk about, I’m yours Got it?"

I loved the sound of that, and I could tell that he wasn’t joking either He reallyin the ti to make our conversation even more difficult since he was an open book to me while I’d been less open with him If our roles were reversed, I would be pissed And ht have made Jackson feel bad or doubt how I feel about hi at all, especially with how lanced around the lobby and watched allexcited Betweenhad lost so er?

"I’et out of here now?"

"Don’t you have people you need to talk to here before we leave?"

He ood point There was one person I needed to check in with before we could go "Let’s just stop to say goodbye to my mentor, and then we can head out"

We held hands as alked through the crowded room over to my teacher She was surrounded by a circle of people, so I waited until I could get her attention She bea there