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He sainst my chest, relieved at once, and for the first tiain

Then he adds, “You danced like a fuckin’ star out there, Bobs”

“Only ‘cause I had you as a partner”

He lifts his head off ives me a kiss, then he leans back and peers into my eyes in wonder

I tilt my head “Can you do me a favor?”

“Anything”

“Pro-Show spotlight complex of yours?”

He bites his lip, considering it “Well …”

“Haven’t I proven I can stand up for ht be a Strong by naonna do this …”

“Do this?”

“Us You and I If we’re going to make this work, I need to know that I can trust you’ll let me handle my own situations, and that you’ll control your te “Protector”

Cuddled up on the bed of this truck with Jiain I know Jimmy will do whatever it takes to make me happy

And I’ll do the same for him, so help me

“I’ll try to be the best version of myself for ya,” he tells me, then tilts his head cutely into mine, “but my rambunctious ass can’t proet hotheaded Or run ”

“More than a tendency,” I sass at him

He chuckles, gives it a second’s thought, then sits up to get a good, strong look at my face His pretty brown eyes turn sincere “But if there’s one thing I can promise, it’s this”

He runs a hand down the side of ives it a soft, loving pinch

I s to his words with all my heart

“You’ll always have soh,” he says “You will always have a good, reliable fella to hold in the night when you’re feelin’ lonely and just plain need a warainst Bobby Parker, you will always—always—have a special guy in your life who adores you for every fuckin’ part of you—good, bad, and everythin’ in-between”

Warh my body by his words alone

I’ve never felt ht now in this littlebut the whispers of distant trees touching our ears