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“I’m not”

“Cecilia,” I said, grabbing her chin as she tried to turn away “It was my decision Mine I coulda stayed with Poet and Amy and they woulda smoothed shit over with my mom, and I knew that I chose to camp out on the back of the property because I didn’t want my mo to punish her”

“I helped you do it”

“So I had to look forward to,” I whispered, pressing ainst hers “If you woulda taken that away? No You didn’t do anything wrong Not a single fuckin’ thing”

“Maybe we’re just toxic together,” she said softly, her voice wobbling “Maybe the universe just keeps telling us to stay away fro that’s happened up to this point”

“No,” I argued “Look at all the shit we’ve survived to this point”

“I’m terrified,” she whispered tearfully

“Jesus, me, too,” I replied honestly “I don’t knohat the hell I’d do if soonna make sure nothin’ does”

“I—I know you are” her voice caught, and she stopped to clear it “Before, I knew that you were out in the world soine a world where you aren’t in it… especially if I’m the reason I don’t think I could survive that”

“I’ood at what I do, baby You just gotta trust that”

“I’ll try,” she replied

“I hate it when you say that,” I said, ure this out and then we’re gonna figure us out, alright? One thing at a time”

“First thing is breakfast,” she said with a sigh, as the noise outside our rooot louder “Sounds like everyone is here”

“You ready?” I asked

“Yeah,” she replied “Just need to do my makeup”

I grinned

Chapter 21

Cecilia

Ignoring the way Mark watched me from the bed, I carefully ran liquid eyeliner across hter, bronzer, broder, eyeshadow and liner, mascara and finally, lipstick I could’ve followed the steps inthem as I stared into the small compact mirror centered me

“You don’t need all that, you know,” he said, reaching out to run his finger down my spine

“It makes me look like myself,” I said simply as I put the eyeliner away

A knock interrupted him as he opened his mouth to speak “Yeah?” he called out quietly

“Food’s on,” Forrest said as he opened the door His eyes widened when turned “Da appreciatively