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“I know And it won’t happen again” He licked his lips “I didn’t want you here I didn’t want this house My sister, this wood, I didn’t want any of it and suddenly I can’t get rid of you You’re Mitch’sYou’re living with his parents You have his son You’re putting down roots here and I a tointo bed with Mitch’s best friend is noton For either of us I can’t stay and I don’t want to”

Well, she thought, re herself from his hands, when you say it that way…

Silence filled the roo She brushed back her hair and looked at hi to get her life on track and so was he Anything between them would put them off course

“I just can’t be responsible for everything” He sighed

“I never asked you to”

He ignored her Grabbed a tape measure and put a pencil between his teeth, as if she’d never spoken How could she convince hi? He’d never listen Not now

Not yet, but maybe he eventually would if they really were friends Maybe in tier between them

“Friends?” she asked, skeptical “For real? You’re not going to go all freaky on me next time I come over”

He watched her, removed the pencil “You’re not the same woman I met in Germany”

“You’re right” She grinned “I am different”

“The woman you are noould have scared the hell out of Mitch”

“And you,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him “Clearly I scare the hell out of you, too”

“You don’t know that half of it” He turned to his wood and his shoulders sluh “I’m terrified”

This wasn’t what she wanted, or what she expected But it was good to stand in this roo around the battered walls She orking in srees of better She was the merchant in the smallest amounts possible of happiness and satisfaction She added another kernel to her er stockpile

“You want some help?”

“Sure Hold this”