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I’d thought I’d been nervous before, but for soht air rolled overmyself to take and release deep breaths I had started on this path and I wouldn’t turn back now This had been years in the

I turned the corner and Abraham’s broad shoulders came into view He stood beneath a street la hair from the color of dark sand to honey

And then a giggle floated out, and I stopped

Abe shifted, and I sahat his shoulders had blocked before: a girl in a trendy top and skinny jeans, her hair ihted She fluttered her sooty lashes with great mastery, and her voice floated clearly down the sidewalk “But what about that girl you ith earlier?”

Leave now, ut told me, a direct contrast to the orders froood comes to eavesdroppers

But my feet were bolted to the pavement

“What, Taht and playful, his voice a melodic baritone “She’s just a family friend”

The girl spoke goadingly “She’s pretty”

Abe’s voice dropped an octave “Not as pretty as you” His head lowered and ht in a hard, condensed pit

But the girl outht Her hand caainst Abe’s chest in a flirtatious protest “She seemed to like you”

The pit acted like a dark hole, sucking my chest into the cavity of emotion

Abe let out an exasperated groan, tilting his head enough that I could see his perfect profile, his strong jaw and Ro sun He was youth and strength and everything I’d ever wanted “Trust me, I’m not interested in Tamar She’s like a little sister”

A high-pitched squeak cut through the night, and the couple froze As did I, hand to throat, berating irl’s eyes widened and fastened on mine Her lips neared Abe’s ear as she whispered to him

He started, and spun around, surprisingly light on his feet for a linebacker The full force of surprise on his beautiful, good-natured face slammed into me like the discordant screech of an orchestra “Tamar”

I shook ate my presence, and turned and fled