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I tucked a strand of hair behindends of the sleeves of his shirt I still had on, bloodstains and all I couldn’t explain why I didn’t want to give it up, but luckily, he hadn’t asked for it back

“So Monday?”

These were the first words spoken since we got in the car

I nodded absently “Yeah I stay tonight, work the entire day toht I love it Those kids were all ree in counseling so I can help kids like us, kids that had shitty parents, a crap upbringing, transition into foster care and adoptive homes More often than not, they think they have all the answers and are unwilling to adapt That’s the curse of the streets, I guess Kids grow up too fast”

He just grunted, but froot from him so far, I kneas true in his case as well No kid just woke up oneto be a car thief because it sounded fun

“So your brother—” I was cut off when he turned to look at me with narrowed eyes

“Half brother”

“Uhhalf brotherhe doesn’t help you with your mom at all? Does he know about the house?”

I saw his jaw clench and a muscle start to tick Too bad He had seen me naked—been inside me—and that, at the very least, entitled id, very black and white on what equals good and bad His dad was a ot locked up when Titus was just a little kid He never got over it He wanted the perfect family, mom and dad who loved each other, no addictions, no troubles, and when he couldn’t get that in the Point, he wrote us off and found a new family He doesn’t care about Mom because she doesn’t care about herself And with me”—he slicedmy brother meant when he hauled me in”

I cleared my throat and turned my attention back to the windshield “It’s not like he had a choice You’re a criminal, he’s a cop”

“There’s always a choice, Copper-Top So one and deal with the fallout, but there is always a choice”

I didn’t have an answer for that, so I just twirled a curl loosely around er and rode in silence until the house caht in the center of the Point, run-down, bars on the s, a sad-looking playground set out front It didn’t look like much, but the love that was on the inside made it the most beautiful place I had ever been in my life I turned to tell him thanks for the ride, to ask when I would hear fro my door open before I could