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“Honestly, I never wanted it It always esture back in their faces I feel a lot better without it in my apartment Anyway, you’ll be happy to know that I put up more of my photos Some of the bleak stuff, they’ll always be a part of me But also a few other—less desolate—photos that you haven’t seen yet”

“What about the ones you sent me last week?”

“I didn’t want to hang any of you without your permission And Skoobs—my therapist—warned me not to use you as some kind of stand-in for everyone I’ve lost Basically, not to replace their pictures with tooon that wall unless you want to And even then, it’ll be only one or two pictures I like the one of you dancing in the rain And I—uh, really like the one Chance took of us But I wanted you to be there when I hang those”

She puffed air into her cheeks and pursed her lips, her eyes considering “You’re assu quite a lot, aren’t you?”

Panic flared in his eyes “I’et ahead of s slowly Test the waters, so to speak Which is why I thought we could date, you know? Like normal people”

“Aah, yes, I’d nearly forgotten You did ask hed at the recollection, and he grimaced

“I was nervous, I know I botched it”

“I was too distracted by your crazy shirt and suspenders to really pay attention Why don’t you ask ain?”

“I will but…do you still love me?” His question was rife with insecurity, self-doubt, and fear

Vicki sighed, then smiled…and for the first time, she truly allowed herself to believe in this

Believe in him

“I don’t kno to stop loving you, Ty,” she confessed “It’s becory with you When I was hurt, sad, dispirited, and disillusioned, I never, ever stopped loving you I wanted to I hoped that so you so much’

“I don’t deserve it” He sounded so contrite But his statement bothered her, and she could not allow it to stand

“You do You deserve to love and be loved, Ty You deserve a life filled with love and happiness With friends and family” She palmed his jaw and kissed him with all the love she had in her His hands cupped the back of her head, fingers enues shyly became reacquainted

It eet, reverent, and gentle

When they shifted apart with hs, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close She toyed with his shirt buttons and chuckled throatily

“Why are you wearing this ridiculous get up?” She felt his jaw move as he smiled

“That dumb movie”