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Oh, Lord That was a good answer A really good one, actually But the circunore the butterflies flittering around in my stomach and deal with him

My wild eyes softened as the ainst the open doorfraasp, and winced His face screwed up in pain a long reat for ers curl around that of his free hand, gently pulling hian to move, I asked an incensed, “Where were you?”

His silence seemed louder than an actual response

By the tied him into the dim kitchen, I had already pulled outit between ht switch She answered before I had a chance to flick it on

Anika’s shaky voice sounded in htened to petrified “Still nothing I don’t knohat to do, Nas What do I do?”

“He’s here”

“What?” I heard her shuffle to sit up “Where was he?”

“I don’t know, but he’s here He’s fine” But when I spun to look at hihts on, the inside of asped a quiet, “Shit”

“Shit?”

Thinking fast, I blinked at the sight of his bloody and bruised face and rushed out, “I, uh, stubbed my toe It’s okay He’s okay”

“Are you sure?” she asked timidly

I closed ash at his brow or the trail of blood drying at his chin “Yeah”

And then Anika was irate “I a to kick his ass! You tell hi to kick your ass’ Tell him now!”

Lips thin, I turned oing to kick your ass”