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"I’et her back"

"You never lost her," he states, surprising the hell out of , "You just need to get back on the sa back in town"

"I’e her last na hiainst the leather and says, "I’m not ready for that I’m not ready for her to be taken away from me"

"I want you to move to Texas Come work for me Audrey told roup"

"I just got a degree in accounting" he trails off

"Do you actually give a shit about accounting? Because I think it’s some kind of distraction from whatever happened before you o to Texas for her," he responds, avoiding my question

We bump knuckles and I say, "I feel like I should ask your per to bounce around again before he resu Bastard I shouldn’t havehappen to her, right?"

"That’s not askingvoice

"It would ," I reply seriously

He stops his routine and solemnly states, "Jace, I’ve known you were the one for her before Ito actually work out I know you’ll take care of her I also know you’re too afraid of hhh," I let out a yell, partly in relief and partly out of frustration "I’ for her to coet so scrawny, dude"

"I wasn’t going toa little chunky Guess you’ll be doing a lot of cardio this week," I return I take the bag next to him and start my first round His body stills atwhen I see him raise his arms so he can check out his own body I knew that one would hit hi to kick your sorry ass in the ring Because this," he gestures to his body, "is all your fault Miss-I’-to-bake-twelve-batches-of-muffins-a-day because she doesn’t kno to deal with emotions fattened me up this week And did she eat any of those cookies or muffins? No! She didn’t sleep either She ran on adrenaline all week, baking, finishing up every last paper we’ve been assigned, and working double shifts"

I hanght now I know I haven’t given Audrey everything she deserves I haven’t shouted froirl I haven’t walked her to class with ht I haven’t treated her the way she should be treated But soht because failure is not an option

"For that, I’ll let you get a few free hits in," I finally respond

AUDREY -

The second I step through the revolving doors that lead to baggage claim, I see a crew of unexpected fahtly and wave enthusiastically I’ in a wheelchair with Cole holding the handles Cole tries to wheel him forward but Jax elbows him away and slowly pushes the wheels himself Lanes stands above all of the and brace for the i that I will always associate with faruff voice

"I uys," I say to them over his shoulder Curious, I look around for another face, one that I couldn’t get out of my mind even if I tried

"Don’t worry, if he knew you were co in today, he would have been here before any of us He’s been pacing circles around the living rooht you told hi?" I ask Lane, recalling the brief conversation he tolda phone really sucks Did you know that there aren’t pay phones anymore? Like anywhere?" I co deviously

"Uh-oh" I groan and look to the others for elaboration

"We don’t knohat the gorgeous hunk is up to," Erueous hunk, by the way," Cole chihs

Cole looks to Lane and deadpans, "We can’t be friends with you anye him in the shin with his foot, "Yeah, sorry but you’re out"

Lane laughs out loud and wraps his arm around my shoulder "Coroan and look at Lane questioningly "Don’t worry, you’re not working It’s just a fun night with friends"

I s and an e stuck on a confined plane for hours on end is not how I like to spend ain was totally worth the grueling flights Kennedy has been the one family member to always make an effort to maintain a relationship with me I know I have more blood relatives out there, but since they all hate rouped in with them

Kennedy and I stayed with her best friend, Brynn, whose father owns a Fortune 500 company in Manhattan Brynn doesn’t have a limit to the amount of money she can spend, and she doesn’t hesitate to spend it on her friends Or her friend’s cousin, as the case may be I spent my time there in private, chauffeured cars, fancy restaurants that usually require a reservation months in advance, and swanky rooftop bars It was fun for a week, but that whole lifestyle just see to me I don’t kno Kennedy can keep up with her friends all year round

After Em and I wave our hellos to soh the packed bar Finally, we find a pool table in the back, and as we pull up so in hushed tones

"Just co shit later

You seriously need to have your man card revoked