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She fell into a worried silence, and Neal sat there, wondering if he should say so and perfunctory or just hold the silence until she broke it Elena seemed to realize that Neal had no idea hoas supposed to react She straightened in her seat

“Sorry,” she said, trying to keep the embarrassment from her tone, “that was too much information”

Neal smiled “Don’t worry about it”

“No, I shouldn’t have told you all that… I guess I just…” Elena stopped for a ether To pretend like I’ve got everything under control This is the first time I’ve admitted I don’t”

“That’s OK to ad that this conversation was getting too deep for the casual night he had hoped to have with her

“Is it?” Elena countered “I could never say that to my parents… or my sister”

“Why not?”

She shook her head “Let’s just say… I don’t want to prove theht”

“Well, look at the bright side –

“There’s a bright side?” Elena asked incredulously

“Well, you’ve been forced to stand on your oo feet,” Neal said, groping for words that wouldme my whole life and I’ve never had to practice independence”

“Your brother?” Elena asked in confusion

“Yeah,” Neal replied “He was the host of the party ere just at, actually George Hargrove”

Elena looked at him in shock Neal could tell that she hadn’t realized that he was the second Hargrove brother He had been through this before Wo suddenly enamored with him the moment they knew he caet the same reaction from Elena

“So you’re Neal –