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"I know" He reached out to take my hand and squeezed it before I could pull it away "How do you think I feel? Your father actually likes me You don't kno lanced quickly at me

I really didn’t knohat to say

"I know you and he don't really get along well," Drake said softly "But he's like the father I wish I’d had My own father was so self-absorbed and away from home so h He was always, 'Hey, I love you man,' but I never felt it If he had loved me, as he always away?"

He said nothing for a ht "Your father is lected, I envy you that When Iiood friends So, if he found out about ments I knohat he's like"

"And yet you like him"

"He's like a second father to me He's smart and competent and powerful and has so much history with my dad And he likes me, Kate"

We arrived at ot out and started walking up the steps He followed me quickly to the door

"Kate" He took my arm and tried to turn hten this out between us"

"There's nothing to straighten out We're square, OK? Let's just go our separate ways"

As usual, so so their cousin or uncle or homey could come in I opened the door and kicked the piece of cardboard aside that was holding it open,just a bit I went inside and of course, he followed me before the door closed

I glared at his chin "You said you wouldn't come in"

"You said you'd talk to me"

"I did"

"Kate…" He put his arm out and stopped me before I reached the stairs, his hand on the wall I stood there and stared at the leather strap on his wrist

I waited He kept his arm like that