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“I made a mistake, Aria” I meet her hard look with a penitent one “I wish like hell I could take it back, but I can’t But I can pro I would never hurt Lark or anyone else like that again Not ever”

Aria reaches up, gently pulling her earring from Felicity’s fist before the baby can draw it into her mouth “Maybe you can convince her that’s true Mason, but I’oing to uess what?” The baby starts to fuss, but Aria shushes her with a tummy rub and a bounce on her hip “They always make the same mistake Always So them another chance does is make you feel like a fool”

“I’h that, but—”

“But nothing,” Aria says, the harsh note creeping back into her tone “I learned my lesson the hard way, but I hope to God my sister won’t have to I’ to win me over I don’t need your favors, and Lark needs you back in her life like an octopus needs a hang glider”

I open my mouth, but before I can speak, I hear Lark’s footsteps pounding down the stairs A second later, she’s at the door, her fils as she breezes by Aria with only a slight pause to kiss the top of Felicity’s head

“Ready to go?” she asks in a breathless rush, her brown eyes searching mine

I force a slance back at Aria “See you later, Aria”

“Not if I can help it,” she says

Lark frowns, but before she can turn around, Aria closes the door with a firm thunk

Lark sighs “Sorry about that,” she whispers as we start down the walk toward my car “She’s just…protective And cranky Crankily protective”

“It’s all right I understand Sounds like she’s going through a hard time I can be patient… Wait for her to come around”

Lark hesitates at the end of the walk before turning to me with a panicked expression

Before she can speak, I cup her face inthe world “We’re going fishing, and I’ to answer every question you can think to askto talk about what I need to do to start regaining your trust Think it over while I drive Whatever you need, I’ll do it I’ll learn to stand onpins if that’s what it takes”