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His eyes cut from me over to Vale, who turns her head away to stare at the wall

I scrub , between chin and shoulder, depending on ive me just a minute, man"

Oliver nods and eases out, shutting the door quietly

I turn to look back at Vale and she won't give lance So I take her jaw, squeezing slightly, and force her to turn and look at me When she does, I feel my heart shrivel up and die

There's nothing there

It's justdead

"Are we over?" I ask her quietly

"Yes," she says, with absolutely no hesitation, but there's a warble to her voice and a quiver to her lip

"Will you at least tell me why?"

"No," she says just as resolutely, but tears fill her eyes "I don't want to discuss it with you"

I have one more question as I feelon how she answers, this decides whether or not I miss my plane Because if there's even a chance that I think I can reach her, I' to sit on this bed and talk to her until I'm blue in the face

"Do you still lovethe words out

I brace as if I'ue I know that her answer has the power to hurt me worse than I ever have been before on the ice

She stares at le, silent tear slips down her cheek Then she lowers her face and says, "No I don't love you, Hawke"

In that one o deaf, my vision dis Tihtirl who in one instant has rate

Absolute and utter quiet

Me staring at her

Vale staring at her lap

This o on for an eternity, but then I hear Oliver's car engine start from out on the street, a subtle reminder I have places to be

Everything starts ain

My heart begins a steady thu the dishwasher in the kitchen, and I can hear Vale's ragged breathing as she refuses to look at me

I stand fro her to look up and tell me she just lied to my face

But she doesn't

So I turn around and walk out of her roo her know that this isn't over "I'll call you tonight after I land"

She doesn't respond, and so to answer the phone

Chapter 1

Hawke

PRESENT DAY

The vibe in the air is palpably electric Makes my skin prickle and my blood race