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I gripped his hands and said, “I’m sorry I know you cahts we ht someday be more You have to understand, accept, that I loved—” I shook my head This was all so insane But I had to be honest With Kyle and with myself “I love Dane I will always love him, no matter what It’s unconditional It’s … forever”

Between clenched teeth, Kyle said, “He is erous for someone like you, Ari Why can’t you see that?”

“That part doesn’t matter I told you, I’ I feel for hio away It won’t”

Kyle lifted his hand, but it lingered in the air, as though he wanted to cup the side ofside, the daed side His hand dropped

“This is all such bullshit, Ari”

I nodded “These people defy coh, when I tell you that Dane did absolutely nothing to hurt ave this ht, then added, “I pushed hiuess The way he feels aboutto do whatever he has to in order to keep me safe And it makes him want to pummel anyone who touches me”

A shiver ran down my spine, but I d

idn’tstate Vale had been in or one still that Dane had killed hi tended to, likely laid upof bones I’d heard Soht have been Dane’s I didn’t ask if he wore a cast on one or both of his hands

I certainly didn’t feel right as rain, but speaking about all of this to Kyle and having him here with me helped to ease soly endless sobfest

I let him make dinner—canned soup—and ate a little to satisfy him, since I still didn’t have much of an appetite I didn’t want him any more frazzled orry over me His consternation was pretty intense as it was

I drank about a gallon of water, maybe to replace all of the tears Sadly, there were still so many of them unshed I held them in check for Kyle’s sake

We returned to the sofa, ain

“How did all of this happen, Ari?” he asked in a quiet voice “To your face, I mean”

I wasn’t inclined to relive that evening, but he deserved a bit by way of explanation

I said, “You remember the valet, Wayne?”