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"You mean it?"

"I wouldn't have offered otherwise"

She looked at hiratitude in her wide eyes "Do you have one for yourself?"

He shook his head

"Then— "

Realizing she was about to decline his gesture, he came up with a more acceptable idea that would help them both "How about we take this to a photo machine and make you a copy? You can even pick out your own fra on her lower lip "Can I ask you soainst the wall and studied her

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

He hadn't knohat to expect, but she'd stumped him with that one "Any reason I shouldn't be nice to you?"

She glanced down at her bare feet "I don't deserve it"

He sed hard, surprised at how her sudden insecurity and vulnerability affected him "I'll admit you can be a pain in the ass sohed "Besides, you're family"

"So?" She curled her toes into the hardwood, her body a bundle of raw nerves

He wondered if she was serious Glancing up, aze, he realized she was As Zoe had tried to tell hi loved and accepted It would take a long tie the way he felt about her

"So, you're my niece and that binds us You can stuff all the toilets you want and it won't get you tossed out of here You can run away and, mark my words, I'd find you"

"You irl "Iis, you'reif he'd gone too far too fast

But when Sa, he realized his honesty had been a good thing for theet so day ahead of arden"

"You did, huh?"

Saht I help fix it Besides Grandma said if I did, she'd build a special pen for Ima to stay e come visit"