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“Why not?”

I looked down at es of some of my nails I needed a nail file, but I didn’t have one I used the edge of my thumbnail to try and fix one of the worst of the broken nails but then suddenly a big warm hand closed over both of mine I sucked in a breath as a jolt of electricity fired up my arms

“I have a nail file in ive it to you next time we stop” He paused then added, “They don’t bother me, Aleks”

I let out a whoosh of air as I realized what he was really saying

You won’t be punished for messy nails, Aleks

“Okay,” I ed to say

He gave hout htened and I barely stifled a groan at the strange sensation that wasn’t entirely bad

Vaughn removed his hand and I actually missed the contact

Why?

“Why can’t you go to college?” Vaughn asked

“I can barely leave the house,” I muttered

Vaughn was silent for a beat and I was half-teure out what he was thinking But I also kind of didn’t want to know

“It won’t always be like that, Aleks,” he said

I wanted to laugh at that but ed not to He said he’d watched o So he’d have no idea how little progress I’d made since he’d last seen me And I definitely didn’t want to tell him

“I’ed “Connor and Miss Savannah – she’s e courses on the computer now, but the GED stuff was so hard And I… I like working at the flower shop”

I did look at Vaughn briefly, but tobut curiosity No pity that I could see

“Why’d you ask about MIT?”

“My father went there”

“Your father is frohn asked

I nodded “But Papa isn’t”

I almost smiled at his look of confusion “I have two fathers,” I clarified “Mama was married before she had me Dante and I have the same father, but he died before I was born He was very so there soacy?”

Vaughn nodded, and I relaxed a little when I realized I hadn’t lish because she wanted o to my father’s school and be just like him”