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When she pulled her long hair free, she said, "I' to make some coffee if you want some"

"No, thanks," I returned woodenly "I need to get going"

Vale's eyes went softliot my reticence because she still knew ot my discomfort and then went the extra mile to try to ease the situation

"Well, okay," she murmured with a smile as she walked toward me She stopped just before where I stood near the bedrooain for last night You really helped h patch"

I coughed to clear my throat "Yeah, sureno problem"

Vale nodded and slipped pastdown the short hall into the kitchen I followed along and glanced to the left to see her at the coffeepot She didn't turn back toon

I saw it on her face last night The open acceptance of me back into her lifeher body Fuck, I'ratitude laced with desire and smothered in tenderness written all over her face as I fucked her I wanted to fall prey to it as much as I wanted to fly out of this apartment and not look backward

"I'll try to get

to the hospital later today to see your dad," I told her as I reached for the door

She looked over her shoulder at ht and thankful smile "Thanks He'd like that a lot"

I stared at her, she stared at mepatiently

I should have gone, and yet I stayed, searching vainly for so at a low boil deep inon for you?"

Her eyes crinkled with another sratitude "No, thanks I also texted hiht and he told me to take all the time I need"

"Oh, okay Well, I'll just get going"

She gave a wave of her hand "Have a good practice today"

As I stood outside her apart on Was she using me as a means of escape froaveand take advantage of her last night and now she's just too polite to be rude about it?

Fuck What a mess

And now I'ured she'd be at the hospital all day It's barely two PM

Max is on the treaden Vale stands beside him, her back to me, a clipboard in hand and her other poised above the buttons on the treadmill to increase the speed and incline

I had intended to eights today, in particular s, but I cut across the room to the treadmills and take the one beside Max My moveht ahead, breathing hard at seven ht When Vale's eyes meet mine I ask, "They let Dave out of the hospital?"

She shakes her head and turns back to look at the numbers on the VO2 oing to train a client at Xtreme Fit after I'm done with Max and then head back to the hospital after that"

"How's he doing?" I ask as I start the treadmill and inch the speed up to a fast walk for warm-up

"Great," she says while not looking back at me, her attention on Max and his performance "Said he can probably come home tomorrow"