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“I’ll invite Ryan over, too,” Mrs Callahan said, s With plans to have dinner with his parents later in the week decided, Lauren headed for home

Nate’s Mustang was parked in the garage when Lauren pulled in Should’ve known Why she thought he wouldn’t stick around and try to change her mind was beyond her After all this tih he’d gone against her wishes, she didn’t mind It showed how much he loved her and how determined he was to keep her in his life

Lauren walked into her kitchen and heard the lead character fro the villain an ulti rooie and JoJo came into the kitchen

“Hello” Silence answered as she dropped her purse and crossed into the living rooht before her Nate was stretched out on the couch, an arht to Maggie slept down by his feet, while JoJo had ed to sandwich herself between Nate and the couch cushions If she caht like this every day for the next fifty years, she’d be a very happy woman, no matter where they lived

Leaning down she nudged his shoulder “Nate” When he didn’t respond, she nudged hiain and spoke a little louder

Nate blinked a couple of times Then his hazel-blue eyes locked on hers “You’re hos off the couch “What—”

“I need—” she said at the same time

“Don’t say you need ot out before she finished her sentence “That’s not happening”

“Nate, I—”

“Don’t say it Hear me out first” He stood and put a hand on each of her shoulders as if to hold her in place “If you don’t want to move, that’s fine I won’t try for HRT You’re a hell of a lot , in fact I screwed up once before with you, and I’ain If you need me to prove it to you then I will Just tell me how”

Tears prickled the back of her eyes He ht not use the ht to her heart “Can I talk now?” she asked with a sniffle

Nate gave her a stiff nod, his mouth set in a frown

“Thursday night I overreacted Your news blindsided h school All the eht It was like living a nightain”

Guilt clouded his expression, but he maintained eye contact

“Now that the shock has worn off, I realize it doesn’t ht, I have wanted to try living somewhere else, but I have never had any reason to move”She placed her hands on either side of his face”I’”

She expected a radiant sht curve of the lips

“Are you sure? If I do this, I could be away for long periods of tients tell me it can be hard on relationships”

He’d turned on the movie to pass the time until Lauren came home He’d prepared a speech, but as it turned out it wasn’t necessary She’d reached the same conclusion he wanted on her own Even so, he needed her to fully understand what she was agreeing to No job orth risking losing her all over again All she had to do was say the word and his ass would stay in Boston

“Please I can take anything the FBI throws atthe dimple in her cheek appear

He tightened his grip on her shoulders “I’ents”

Her grin disappeared “I’m serious, too Whatever comes up, ill deal with it That’s what married couples do”