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I shakeI don't put it down, but keep sing until I knock back half the bottle The fizz instantly goes to irl Vale Campbell has fallen A beer and a half and I have a buzz

Taking another sip, I feel a slight pressure on o ahead and break the seal I weave through the crowded deck and make my way inside the house to find a bathrooet an introduction, and then easily find the bathroo a short hall that borders the staircase to the second floor There's a line waiting, so I takeabout everything that just transpired between me and Todd

It would be so easy to blaotwhat very little focus I have left and destroying it Stirring up feelings, irl batty, and surely it's why I's for Todd

Right?

"You doing okay?" I hear Hawke ask, and I twistthere, an affable smile on his face

"Yeahsure Just need to use the bathroom I don't handle beer as well as I used to"

And the minute those words pop out of my mouth, I realize I really need to use the bathrooether involuntarily

Hawke gives a chuckle, takes my hand, and pulls me away from the line "Come on You can use the one in my room"

My body instantly rebels, pulling back against hi"

Hawke doesn't even look atbehind hiht up the staircase I try one more time to pull away, but the pressure in ht of a toilet nearby and I find ency

He turns right at the top and down a hallway to the end, where he opens the door to what must be the master bedroom

I take a quick survey, see packing boxes all over the floor His bed is devoid of sheets and just has a few pillows and a blanket on top

"Still unpacking?" I ask

"Yup But this is the last room," he says as he releases my hand He nods over my shoulder with a pointed look "Bathroom's in there"

I gratefully spin away fro to hear the soft chuckle from Hawke that causes my belly to flip I shut the door firainst it for a moment

The skin on the pal andthe focus away fro bladder

Damn, Hawke Why does he do this to me?

Chapter 9

Hawke

I know I should turn around and walk my ass back down the stairs Rejoin the party Drink another beer

I' I need to do is lose my head completely around Vale Who sits just on the other side of the door--literally--with that flowing cotton skirt speckled with flowers probably hiked around her waist

Fuck, but she's different The old Vale would have shown up at a party with ripped jeans hanging low on her hips, a bustier that ca out, and those green eyes lined with heavy eyeliner She screamed party She always screamed sex

But tonight, the si with a white tank top and a lightweight yelloeater, screa Vale alas, but it was always just so understated Now she looks like she should be sitting down to afternoon tea rather than sla beers at a Cold Fury party

And yet I'etup that's so very different from the woman I knew It's a more mature Valea softer woman Still with that scared look in her eyes that I've beco I don't like very much

Don't like the douche she showed up with either, but I have to say, they haven't hung together ht Instead, Vale nursed a beer and hovered near her father, while her boyfriendwith a puck bunny about veneers Talk about lame

I hear the toilet flush and I tell one

Instead, I walk over to the door and propI listen to water run, assuine her possibly fluffing her hair while she looks in the loss to those perfectly full lips

I nearly groan at the thought of those lips The way they used to look as they slid up and down on my

The doorknob turns andsteady rather than retreating Vale's head is down as she steps out, causing her to walk right into e to reach out and steady her

She looks up atin the doorway, and her eyes flare ith surprise

"What are you doing?" she mutters

"Making sure everything carin

Her lips quirk up and she shakes her head "That's lame"