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She took out all the curlers, then bent over at the waist and began to finger-comb the curls When they were loose and, hopefully, sexy-looking, she stretched out her arrab for the hairspray, but instead encountered a hand

She iht position and took a jump back

Todd stood next to her dresser in her bedroom Her messy bedroom with the unh when compared with how fast and hard her heart pounded in her chest, she wasn’t sure that reat he looked in khakis and a silk shirt, then remembered her hair and cla here?" she asked "How did you get in? Couldn’t you have knocked?"

At least she was dressed, but jeez Talk about a shock

"I knocked several times, then tried the door It was open You okay?"

No, she wasn’t She risked a glance in the mirror and saw her hair didn’t look too bad, so she lowered her hands to her sides

"You shouldn’t leave your door unlocked," he said

"You drove all the way out here to tell me that? Fine I shouldn’t I don’t norht She’d been distracted at the thought of seeing hi in front of her, she knehy

She still loved hi he’d said and all that had happened and how ht this second, she wanted to throw herself into his arms and have him tell her that they would work it out That what had happened before had been nothingNot that Todd would ever say "icky"

"Why are you here?" she asked

"I wanted to talk to you," he told her "There are soht The rehearsal dinner "I’ she would be "Yes, it will be aith our fa and I think we can pull this off It’s not like ere dating for years No one really knows Well,We planned the wedding together, nothing aze settled on her face "Is that all that happened?"

"It’s all I’ht At the dinner I would appreciate it if you’d listen to it and tell me where I can improve it"

He wanted her advice? Even worse, she was pathetic enough to be willing to give it

"Fine Read away"

He pulled a piece of paper out of his shirt pocket and unfolded it "The Bible tells us that love is kind Scholars tell us that love can change the course of history Scientists tell us that love is chemical Poets tell us that love is eternal But true love is soIt’s about co that person will be there for you Love is about hanging on through the roller-coaster ride of life Love is having faith, in yourself and the person you love For Julie and Ryan, love is who they are"

His words wrapped around her like a hug She wanted to both laugh and cry, but o to him and tell him that no matter what, she would always love him That’s what love was for her How had he known?

Instead she said, "It’s lovely They’ll be deeply touched"

He took a step toward her "ItiJulie Eventually she won me over and I was happy for him But not envious I never wanted what he had…until now" He smiled wryly "Not Julie--the in-love part"

"Good to know," she ht What was he saying? That he cared? That he wanted to care? That she mattered?

"You know my past," he said "You knohy I holdemotionally involved You knohat I’m afraid of" He shook his head "I can’t believe I just admitted I’m afraid"

Neither could she "I do knohy"

"When you said you were pregnant, I thought you were just like thery, butyou to be different For wanting to believe you hadn’t trickedBecause you’re not like them"

Her eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away He took a step toward her