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“Ten thousand dollars,” I sighed in disbelief as I wandered toward the , staring out at the street Mere blocks away, I could see the ether only days before “I could really use that ten thousand dollars”

“And don’t forget,off His words sizzled with arrogance

I flashed around, spinning back to face him Without hesitation, I lifted my hand and reached for his We shook on it, just like that, over the top of the desks between us Instantly I felt gri my mother’s life

“All right Well I guess I’ll send you so back His expensive shoe clacked on the floor “Maybe that et your number”

“Right Yes Phone” I lifted a pad of paper fro it toward him “I’m not sure how all of this ork”

“You can leave it up tooing to have to see each other a bitif—”

“If we just get hitched, like that I know,” I sighed, feeling the heaviness in o lie down, but I knew I couldn’t I was trapped

“Right Well, as long as you get it You seeirl,” Rayou a pet naie-bear?”

“Don’t push it,” I said, finding a smile rush between my cheeks

Moone, and I collapsed in the chair behindmy forehead to fall toward my hands I heard the clatter of feet at the door and looked up, finding Rita there, watching lasses

“That ain,” she said brashly

“He was,” I replied, suddenly wanting to put as much distance between us as possible

“Have you datedfurther intotoward her shoulders “Because the culture, it’s co to want to be aware…”