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"ButEver doesn't reciprocate those feelings"

"Oh, bullshit," she says

Now I do choke I can't believe this lovely, sweet, southern wo and take another sip of coffee, I have the nerve to say, "You think she does?"

Sam reaches over and lays her hand on top of ht when you got here We were just standing aroundtalkingbut the two of you kept stealing glances at each other There's definitely sorace to admit it"

Could Ever actually have feelings for et my hopes up, but if anyone should know Ever's mind, it would be her mother

I as hter get hurt Ever has been hurt enough"

Wellif I thought I had a chaht has been dispelled

"I understand," I tell her "I'd be protective of hter, too"

"Then you should understand that I want you to have the chance to hurt her"

"What?" What kind of mother wants that?

"Relax, Linc While I like that protective instinct that just reared up, it's not needed What Ihurt If she doesn't, she'll lose out on what could be a great opportunity for so me?"

Oh, I was picking up what she was putting down It's the advice I would give to Ever if I thought she'd listen to me That she has to take a risk that maybe we could have a real relationship That while it is not my intention to hurt her, she has to take the chance to see if I would

"Maybe you can impart that to Ever while we're here," I tell her "I'm sure you have much more sith her than I do"

Sam chuckles "Oh, don't you worry about that I would never miss such an opportunity"

I look in the full lengtha low-key birthday celebration for my mom I've cooked her favorite meal and made a birthday cake this afternoon

The sundress I' is fine, but it's the dark circles under et hardly any sleep last night I could kick e to be with Linc last night got the better of me, and I stole into his room to practically molest him

And the funny thing is, I didn't really go in there for sex I wanted to just crawl into bed and hold onto hi thereilluht, I lostas sweet as lay in his arms So instead, I turned it sexual because that is all I want this to be Well, it's really all I can handle it being

Don't getThe sex, as always, was phenohtly as he drifted off to sleep But then I let prudence and uide my actions I slipped away and went back toabout Linc I finally fell asleep close to dawn

Despite my lack of sleep, today has been wonderful Linc went off to visit some buddies that play for the Carolina Hurricanes and ether

She looks fantastic healthy and her recent checkup with her oncologist went perfectly And even as great as all of that is, I still walk around dreading that any day, the cancer could come back

My mom at least had the fortitude to wait until lunch before she hit me up about Linc

"I really like Linc a lot, Ever Such a nice man"

"Mmmm Hmmm," is all I said

"He really seeentleman"

"Yup"

"He's really gorgeous, don't you think?"

Oh, God, uess" Even though he's hotter than Adonis

"Ever Montgoo into his rooht I saw the way you two look at each other Now fess up What is going on?"