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“You ready? Luca looks like he needs sleep”

Ella cohter than nor back

“Love you, big brother,” she says, offering a smile

“Love you too, little sister”

Minutes later, they’re both gone, and I’ away the day Ella’s words come back to me as I stand under the warm spray

I don’t knohat s are, I just know I need to keep them in check I feel responsible for Jules because I’m the reason she’s missed seven years of her life

After drying off, I clinore it I only ate a half a sub earlier, but I’

I lie in bed withI need to get at least a couple of hours

I close ain with the sound of Jules’s pleas reverberating in my head

IT’S BEEN FIVE DAYS since I started coht, I proht I end up back here I know I’ for trouble, but it doesn’t stop me Either one of the nurses will spotcrazy Neither of those things keep me away

Every night, I’ve kept my place just inside the door

Until tonight

When I walked into the room, Jules’s wildflower scent hitat the bed getting my first close-up view of her in weeks, and it feels like I can finally breathe again

Quietly, I sit down in the chair that I’ht to sit in this chair, but fuck if I don’t like it Even the thought of hi close to her makes me livid and my fists itch to pummel the hell out of him

I push those thoughts aside before they get me in trouble