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“Griff isn’t my friend He’s my brother”

“No way” She looks taken aback, though not horrified That has to be a good sign

“I’m not certain if that was meant to compliment him or me”

“People who fish for compliments don’t deserve them”

“Holland,” Ithem down like bitter medicine “I ht I’m sorry eren’t more truthful with each other, and I’m sorry to hear you’ve had issues with your eoad ht be able to help you”

“You mean like your brother wants to help?” she retorts with more than a hint of accusation

I could, I suppose Except that she deserves better and that I demand better from myself My needs are my own, and there are other ways to have those needsthe innocent

“There’s no need to be suspicious” Because, unlike so throughGriffin’s card into my inside pocket, I take out my pen My jaw clenches as I resist the temptation to ask for her nureat I could give her ht answer And that sounds like the beginning of a disaster “Call this nu her hand in mine, I jothow small it looks, the delicacy of her wrists And how they lookedyour call”

“What kind of job are we talking about?” As if her expression wasn’t enough, her tone drips with suspicion

“One with children, I believe”

“Teaching?”

“I don’t believe so” Because I don’t know anyone ns a school But between us, s, and estates And better still, some of them are in very remote locations The kind of locations that are out of Griffin’s reach