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“Really?” Surely he hadn’t heard her correctly “You’re fine with ending things?”

“Yes After all, it’s not like there was anything serious between us” Her voice was hollow and lacked any emotion “You made perfect sense”

He made sense? He wasn’t sure how to take that

Her gaze didn’t quitecompetition I can make your excuses”

“You aren’t getting rid of me that easily” He s forward to this”

“I just don’t want you to do it out of obligation”

“I’m not—”

“And I hope this won’t affect the South Shore deal”

“Business is business I’ to hear from the board today or tomorrow”

“Good Now I have to go” She turned and walked aith her head held high and her shoulders rigid

He blew out a frustrated breath He’d reallyfors and yet he didn’t believe a word of it

He ht not be in a place for a relationship, but that didn’tAnnabelle He felt awful for his outburst the prior evening There had to be a way to ain But how?

He thought about the problee festival Annabelle had been so excited about it He thought about the baking contest today It’d be great if she won, but he didn’t knohat she’d baked and he wasn’t one for cheating If she won, it had to be on her own

No, there had to be so else He pondered it so paperwork He was almost there when the idea hit hi hin her up for an event

Second place