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I toss h “I think I’ll survive”

He grins at ain and I think the conversation is done, but then he surprises ain He stops in the middle of the sidewalk and I’m forced to stop too Prue looks up at us quizzically, wondering e’ve stopped, but she proround

“I wasn’t lying,” Xander begins, sing thickly, “when I told Cade that I love you—but I’m really sorry that’s how you heard it I should’ve told you first” He lets go of ers overa piece of hair behind ain, more firmly this time “I always have, and I alill”

My heart pitter-patters in uy says he loves you it feels pretty daood “I love you too,” I whisper and my chin quivers It’s stupid to cry over this, but the love I feel for hi The kind of love that has the power to destroy you if things go wrong

He grasps ?

”

I breathe out “Because I’m scared”

“Don’t be” He presses his lips toof lips but it feels like so much more It feels like the final seal on a deal we didn’t have the right to make

He steps back and calls to Prue who has run as far as her leash will let her

We start walking again and then circle back to the house

Rae and Cade’s cars are both back in the driveway and I stop Fear holdsbrother He’s always been my protector He won’t hurt me

I turn to Xander “Would youPrue some more? I want to talk to Cade”

He nods “Sure thing I need to run to the store so I’ll do that instead”

“Thanks” I s in the house

The house is eerily quiet when I step inside and search around, looking for the two of the with her camera