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He hadn’t left I could feel his eyes onto look his way, I knew exactly where he was in the rooer beside him That here he’d been since Aunt Eht away It took her using her fire-breather voice before he carried me to the chair I was in presently and then took his current seat on the opposite side of the room from me

That had been over an hour ago Mom had been escorted back to see Daddy just a fewus all that she would tell him we loved him I understood why only one person was allowed back to see hio with her Needed to see withThat he was really okay Breathing

Someone crouched down in front of me, and it tookone of er one, he pressed a cup of souidedit with both “It’s hot chocolate It’s all I could find in the cafeteria that I figured you would drink There isn’t a coffee shop in the building, and Aunt Emmie has declared o across the street to Starbucks”

“Thanks,” I told hihtly bitter yet overly sweet, but the heat dethawedme shiver “Why is it so sweet?”

“I added a few extra packets of sweetener,” he said sheepishly “Figured you neede

d a sugar rush”

“U at hoeet it was, then shrugged and tossed back the rest of the contents It was hot as hell and burned my mouth, but I welcomed the pain

Lyric’s mouth fell open when I handed him the empty cup “Are you okay?”

“That’s debatable,” I told him honestly “But I’ll live”

Leaning forward, he lowered his voice “Give me the word, and Luca and I will fuck him over, Nevi”

Knowing he and his tould burn the whole place down if I asked, I shook my head “No It’s not worth it But thanks anyway”

“Mia and Barrick are downstairs,” I heard Jordan saying to Arella

Stiffening, I stood “I need the bathroom,” I told Lyric “Where is it?”

“I’ll show you,” he offered He put his ar me out of the room and down the hall to the bathrooms

I forcedto be away fro from Mia for a little while I couldn’t believe she would betray me like she did, yet for so Braxton and Lyla pick out the wedding invitations with his mom