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“Do you ever go to our old place?” I ask, biting ainst ht washes over hile “The line shack?”

Just the mere mention of it sends a thrill down my spine Secluded and private, it was a little piece of heaven on earth even if it looked like it hadn’t been occupied in fifty years and smelled of woodfire smoke and must

“I do,” he says “I actually live there”

My jaw all but hits the floor He lives there?

I contain my shock and fire off a follow-up question “What made you want to do that?”

“It was free,” he says, and I’m reminded of the coed to death “And I wanted to”

“So out of the dozens of line shacks on your faive hilance

“I did”

“Okay, then” I know better than toof an explanation

Still, I can’t help but wonder …

16

Wyatt

I grab an ice-cold beer fro before the door has a chance to float shut The second it does, I’reeted with the old photo I’ve stared at a ht it hits differently Plucking the shiny inet, I carry it to the chair by the bed, kick my feet up, and take another sip from my can

Today was the second day Blaire showed up on the ranch and tagged along fro up the past Not once We spent the day swapping stories, painting pictures of what the last ten years have been like for each of us I played along with her little ga I’ve missed out on

There were ti her up, telling her everything, and putting an end to Oliver’s hold over us But I couldn’t do that to Ma we’ve worked for because I can’t get over the only girl I’ve ever loved

Ma the far and investing every last dih to buy back the ranch, but enough to buy a se should we find ourselves homeless one day for whatever reason

I finish htstand, and take a lukewar into bed