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He took Flynn's statement, not only about what happened in front of Zeke's, but also about my rescue from the fire I sat there and listened to hianized and linear fashion As I watched him talk, I literally watched as a bruise appeared on his teh his hair, and I saw his elboas bloody My chest actually craot battered in an effort to defend me

When it was my turn, he asked if I wanted to do the interview in private I shook e to say out loud that I wanted Flynn there It was a co--but just his presence was palpable

Detective Matheson's questions were straight and to the point He only had to interrupt me twice for clarification, but otherwise let me tell the story I wanted

Yes, I said I had been dating Teddy "Juice" Jones for over a year I o

Yes, I said I had wanted out of the relationship and tried to leave the house with Capone I hadn't rabbedme back in He chainedfor hi to keep me quiet I believed he kepto to the bathroo that time and was hardly ever around

No, I admitted I wasn't sure that Juice was the one that started the fire Without giving away narapevine that Juice had been upset about the fire and said he kneho did it and would make them pay

No, I concluded I had nothing else to add

My words seeh for Detective Matheson because he didn't push ht be back in touch with more questions To h based on my statement for probable cause to arrest hies

The only other thing he did was encourage Flynn to get some medical attention, but Flynn declined He said he was fine, but I knoasn't We walked back to the train in silence He rested with his head against theand his eyes closed for the entire ride back to his neighborhood

And other than his short announce to take a shower, there hasn't been any other conversation I feel nauseated over it because I' to circle the drain Why would someone like Flynn even want to have a freak of a friend like , drug-dealing ex-boyfriends stalking them

So lost in hts, I'm unprepared when the door opens and a waft of spicy, scented steaue practically sticks to the top of my mouth He wears only a blue torapped around his waist, with another s around his neck I can't help it whenin the beads of water still clinging there before I meet his eyes

"You shaved," I say with surprise

For the past three days, Flynn has let his beard grow in, clais It was only after I was headed out the door to buy hi, and that he's just too lazy to shave on his days off

Flynn rubs his fingertips over his chin "Yeah I figured I'd go ahead and knock it out since I have to be at work early tomorrow"

"You're going in to work?" I'h a rinder

"Sure, why not?"

I look down at his ribs pointedly "Maybe because of that"

His gaze follows mine down to where a dark purple bruise, just about the size of a boot, covers his right ribcage A slight gri his shoulder, "No biggie I've had worse"

Heto his room My hand snakes out and wraps around his forearainst mine but I hold on He stops and looks at me in question

"Are you oing to end this short-lived friendship, I'd rather get it out on the table

Flynn looks genuinely surprised "Why would you think that?"

My hand falls away froaze lowers and I stare at the tips ofmy shoulders like a shy child

Gah since when is Rowan Page at a loss for words? Or since when does Rowan Page lower her gaze in embarrassment to anyone?

Flynn sticks his forefinger underI raise isat , warmth, and amusement

Amusement?

Yes, there it is

I amuse thein my chest to ease up