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He smoothes a steady hand down my throat, over ht in here is brightly diffused, and he can see every vein and pastel paintball bruise as he looks down at

I love hi fro sparks He ers stroking my marred skin

“I’m sorry you’ve been bruised so often because of me I should have protected you fro time Sort of like, I attack before I can be attacked You’ve been on the receiving end, days, weeks, months, and you’ve handled it like no one else ever could have” I try to speak but he shakes his head and continues

“Every day, everyat you What I’ve done to you has been the worst mistake of my life”

“It’s okay,” I e to say “It’s okay”

“It’s not I don’t kno you’ve coped with me And I’m sorry” He drops his mouth to the bruise on my ribs

“I forgive you You forget, I’ve been a complete bitch to you”

“But you never would have been, if I’d just smiled back”

“I wish you had” My voice breaks traitorously I may as well have said, I wish you loved ent brain, I know he’s joining the dots seconds behind le up the bed, but he crawls easily over me, and lays my head on his pillow

“It made no difference I loved you the moment I saw you”

I’h his bed He loops an arht me

“You loveWhat? Me?”

“Lucinda Elizabeth Hutton One and the same”

“Me”

“Lucy, heiress of the Sky Diamond Strawberries dynasty”