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I sucked

Big time

After running fingers throughht With how unstable everything was, I didn’t want to let go of anything

The water

Why?

Ugh I was going to be sick

As if on cue, the door lock flicked open, and Earl Valentine stood in the doorway Seven years was a long tinize those shoulders and hands anywhere The scar down his face wasn’t scary or ugly, but sexy, showing how dangerous he actually was

Neither of us spoke

I watched him

Waiting

Terrified

Curious

I was a lot of things all mixed into one

He was right here, in front of me, well, a few feet away

“You’re awake”

“I want to go home This isn’t funny”

Earl s sinister and dark lay behind his gaze, pro I didn’t want to know this man too intimately

There was a lotood read on thenized a keeper, a loser, an asshole, and the man you really shouldn’t catch the eye of Earl Valentine was one of those latter men

“You think I’ this for your amusement?”

“What do you want?”

“A lot of things”

“Last time I heard, it was a cherry you wanted to pop” I hated speaking the words, but I wasn’t going to cower from this man

Seven years, Eether She was sad ht in our darkness

I loved her like a sister, and right now, being trapped on a boat with this man, it would leave Emily alone

Earl tilted his head to the side, and I realized I’d surprised him

Good I’d grown up

Since I’d been alone with Emily, we only had each other to count on No men No fathers Noquite well on our own