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She focused on the fire and felt her cheeks burn “Seeing anyone?” she said as casually as she could e

“No,” was the barked reply

Relief al else to discuss

“What about”

“Enough,” Alastair said “I’”

Rainne let out a heavy breath “Helpto drive us both crazy worrying about this whole situation DistractOr your dad Or the shop Or the football ga”

He took a step towards her and suddenly the room seemed far too small for both of them “You want me to talk, Rainne? You sure about that? You want s aren’t heavy between us? You want me to talk to you the way you wouldn’t talk to o? Every time I look at you, I remember how it felt when you shut the door in one No, that wasn’t entirely right There was anger “What a fool I was Running after you to Glasgow, hoping to convince you to co yourself to talk to ht I’d learned my lesson when I was a kid—women always leave You can’t trust them My da learned that the hard hen my mum walked out on us when I was nine And you reinforced the lesson when you tucked tail and ran three years ago So you’ll forgivehas passed”

He pushed past her and sla the door closed behind hi her body She’d known his parents were divorced He’d never mentioned his mother, and now she knehy This situation between thee she’d done to Alastair by leaving was huge She’d abandoned a guy with abandonment issues

The bathroom door opened Alastair stalked out He didn’t look at her

“I’m sorry,” Rainne said

He stared at the glow of the firelight Rainne cautiously closed the distance between theers itched with the need to touch him To comfort him But she didn’t

“I’ain “I didn’t know”

He turned his head slightly to loo

k at her “You never asked”

The words were a blow The ether played out in fast forward in her head They’d only had a fewwith her problems He’d listened to her worries He’d comforted her when she was upset about her family He’d been there for her And she couldn’t re about him Not in any way thather head in shame