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"Before what?"

He looks younger than I've ever seen hih cheekbones and chiseled lips but now a darker tan, a harder jawline He looks almost afraid

My clenched sto about?”

His lips tre to mine

“Ez?” I breathe

“Is that what you called me?" His eyes look teary as he presses his lips flat

"Yeah"

He drops his face into his hands as his shoulders rise and fall Heheavy Fast His fingers shove into his hair, clenching a tuft I can’t help but putnow, I can barely hold hiht

His face comes to my shoulder, and I notice that his arms are wrapped around himself—and not around me

"Hey" I stroke the back of his hair, every atoain "Hey, angel Tell me what happened"

His shoulders give a little shudder "I know I need to," he groans Another treh his back

"You're okay," I whisper God, I want to kiss his cheek

He pulls away, and his eyes are wide and haunted "No I'm not"

I put onna be"

His eyes hold mine as tears spill down his cheeks “You are nice,” he chokes “Like on your stories” Then his face cru to sob He covers it with his hands

He’s crying so quietly that I don’t notice till I see his shoulders shaking Then a whiot punched in the gut

"Are you saying that you don’t re?” I choke “About the two of us?" I reach for hi to hold him, soothe him, but my body feels frozen as I watch him move his hands off his face Was he in an accident? How did I not know this?

"I remember you were indown his flushed face "I remember how I felt I think I liked you in my Jeep beside me"

Oh God