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Vale

While I did indeed get eight pure hours of sleep last night, I'h to catch up on all of the late nights and early h the past feeeks Still, I went to sleep with a sether It was nice

Casual

Fun

When he first sat down atone as soon as he apologized for what happened at the party In hindsight, I'retful over what happened in the bathroom, but it was a bit of a bal waves with Todd and er and secrets and blas for me

As I clearly still have feelings for him

That became evident to eneral rebellion against the notion of a lifeti for what I had lost with the ht I was supposed to be with the rest of my life

It was even ood hen I woke up this o hotel room all squirmy with frustration because of a dirty drea him my cover-up tattoo job, or the way in which I can all too clearly remember how much I wanted hiot his nah to be held for all eternity

We practically tumbled into our apartment We were drunk, a little stoned, and had just come home fro at clothes, deep wet kisses punctuated with groans

We stumbled into the bedroom, completely naked by the time we fell to the mattress Well, almost completely naked I had a sterile pad held in place over Hawke's naht hip, where he had tattooed VALE in a flowing script of dark green ink

Then he was inme hard the entire time

Hawke and I had sex--and I hteen But that night was different, almost desperate Whatmy drea that leg in the crook of his elbohile he pummeled intoeyes said, "Need to see it"

"What," I had moaned as he hit me especially deep

"My name On you"

He reared up, still seated to the hilt, and carefully peeled the bandage off Then with the sa up and out while he fuckedat his name on my tender skin the entire time

It was thelife, and I was so sure, in that moment, that ere meant for each other forever

I brooded about that dreah When we landed, I called Dad to let him knoas back, but he didn't answer the phone He's been tiring out quickly since the virus injection so I assu

The rest of the day was spent at the arena, where I did soanize supplies, but by three po hoht before, but I sure was thinking about hirin

With no training appoint forward to a quiet afternoon at hoht of sleep before getting back to double duty the next day I think I'll ht It's his favorite and it's easy I could do without the carbs, but with as busy as I've been, they'll get burned up quickly

When I unlock the door and open it, I' room is empty and dark, so I turn on one of the floor la in his bedroom, which is odd, because he normally lives in that damn recliner He says he doesn't feel like such a wimp in it

With quiet stealth, I head to the kitchen and dump my purse on the scarred, wooden table that we arage sale a few years ago and I loved the char farmhouse style It takes er out of the freezer to thaw and cans of sauce that I lay on the counter before I decide to go check on Dad

His bedroom door is open and when I spot hi My father is a portly fellow and he's a back sleeper, two factors that cause his chest to heave deep in slu snore It's way too quiet and he's on his side, his back to me

Absolute terror seizes my body and my heart seems to thud to a dead halt Then a rush of adrenaline spikes and I reach his bed with a few quick steps With my hand to his shoulder, I whisper, "Dad?"

I' from underneath his white cotton T-shirt and his body jerks frole his face toward me, and mutters, "Vale?"

His voice is hoarse and oes to his forehead It's so hot that fear jolts through ain

Dad rolls to his back and looks ata little nap"

"You're burning up," I tell hiainst his cheek Just as hot "Are you sick? Maybe flu or so?"