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“We were just having a little fun, boss We didn’t h he appeared ashamed

“Then keep your mouths shut You shouldn’t talk like that about any woman Ever She deserves your respect, not your sexist coto walk down the street,” he reprimanded sharply

The two guys started to open their ht now if you engage in that sort of behavior, you won’t have a place on my crew I don’t tolerate that shit” Kyle’s face was dark and thunderous, and theto crawl into a hole

“Thanks,” I mouthed to him with a small smile

He inclined his head, and then he actually srin I re at least

I felt a little lighter as I et Lena her soda and crackers When I ca together Sweat caused the fabric of his shirt to cling to his skin I tried not to stare

He looked up as I passed by, his dark hair falling in his face He still had this boyish look about hiedall of my mom’s Snickerdoodles

He straightened up and walked over toHe may still look like the boy he used to be, but this was all man

“Hey, I’uys should know better I hope it didn’t upset you” Kyle sounded contrite, and it htly

I tried to wave it away “Eh, I’ what I just said, I resisted the urge to sainst my forehead That sounded coet used to it Not et catcalled all the ti I wasn’t a raether

I had always been the one in control ere together It seeed over the years

Kyle’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he bit back a set it a lot” As if by their own volition, his eyes swept up the length ofme warm all over Then he obviously remembered who I e were—and he looked away quickly It was like being dunked in ice water “But just because you’re used to it, doesn’t mean you should be used to it if you knohat I uy’s ass if they spoke like that about Katie I won’t condone that toxic masculinity bullshit”

“You’re a rare breed then, Kyle Webber,” I stated

Finally, his gaze swung back around, clashing with mine in a way that hurt “It sounds like you’ve spent way tookind of men then, Whitney” His words beca the history that always fell between us like a hammer

I had to close ht back too much