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“She’s not alwaysI meanshe can be kind of troublesome”

“Aspen, look at me”

She raised her ereen one “Do you really think I can’t handle your mother?”

“It’s not that” She was pretty sure there wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle “I just feel like I should apologize in advance—”

He let out a loud sigh then shook his head “If I hear you apologize toto have to find so you”

What did that mean? She opened her mouth to ask him then closed it, fairly certain she didn’t want to know “Fine, so—” she caught his gaze “I mean, I’ll stop”

“Good As to anything she says, it is not your concern”

“She’s my mother” How could it not be my concern?

“Meaning you’re responsible for her?”

“Yes,” she said simply

He studied her for a ainst you”

“Sure” She’d been burned too many times by her mother’s actions to believe that As a child, she’d known better than to invite anyone ho to make friends with each move It had been easier to keep to herself rather than have people ask too et attached to someone then have to leave them behind

“Aspen, come here”

She found herselftowards him before she even realized it Damn, his voice held some power

He grasped her chin, and warmth filled her He stared into her eyes, and she stood frozen to the spot, co