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"Yeah, yeah," she mutters "I hear you"

"How is ht of Piper nearly fifteen hundred er a framed picture of me and Piper on the bedside table Her chocolate-brown face with a slightly pink nose, tongue lolling out the side of her face We both look so happy in this photo and it seeo A picture of me and Todd had been next to it, but I put that in the drawer the day after we broke up I couldn't stand to look at his face, knowing that I hurt him

"She misses you," Avery says in a sympathetic voice "So do I for that matter"

"Iher for et back on my feet"

We spend a feweach other in on our respective lives over the past few days

I tell her more details about Dad's hospitalization

She tells me that Thomas has learned to cross his eyes and now does it for every photo that's ever taken

I tell her a funny story about one of my Xtreether unpleasant aro on a person

She tells ue this week and already broke his nose

I tell her about Hawke

Well, I more or less blurt it out in an unrestrained bark of ado"

Avery knows that Hawke and I have crossed paths I'd told her all about the first time we talked and hoard it was I'd told her about his olive branch and that we settled into a friendly routine I'd told her about Hawkeme in his bathroom--but omitted how much I enjoyed it--and that he outed us to Todd She knows this sort of precipitated Todd's proposal, which in turn precipitatedthe relationship with him

But she never in a ht we'd have sex, and this is confirmed when she screeches, "You did what?"

"I slept with Hawke," I practically whine "It hen Dad got put into the hospital and I was exhausted and vulnerable and I needed some comfort, familiarity"

"You needed an orgasht? That's all it was, I bet"

I'm silent

And the silence is da

"Tell me that's all it was," Avery demands

"Well, to me it was--"

She rolls right over me "That son of a bitch doesn't deserve est fan, but after he wouldn't return your calls and emailwell, he just can't have ive him more than that"

Her last statement is a plea

She's begging ain, so I quickly reassure her "Don't worry, Av It was definitely only a hookup for Hawke; he's apparently still holding a grudge--"

"Why?" Avery deht"

"Regardless," I say gently "It was just a one-ti We've both moved past it"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes"

No, I'm not past it

"Because he'll hurt you again if you let him in," Avery points out "And besidesI bet the sex wasn't even as good as you reht?"