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She wanted hiainst the counter flitted through his reatly, he restrained hi her for breakfast Now that she’d had tis played out that way between the to refuse her a second tistore early thatto buy condoms, just in case

“Chocolate chip pancakes it is,” he said with a grin, and whipped up the mixture while she watched He poured the batter into the buttered pan, then aze a bit more seriously

“So, the prepaid phone we bought last night is right over there on the counter,” he said, indicating the device she’d purchased at his suggestion so she at least had so her mother if she cared to, without the worry of her whereabouts being tracked or traced “I activated it for you, just in case you wanted to use it”

“Do I want to use it? No,” she said a bit stubbornly, then sighed “Should I be a good daughter and at least let my mom know I’m okay? Yes So, I will”

Her reluctance was palpable as she approached the phone, and while he finished up the pancakes, she turned on the device, typed out a text instead of calling, then quickly turned it off again Clearly, Raevynn didn’t want to give her mother the chance to call the nu

“There, it’s done,” she said quietly, putting the phone back down on the counter

“What did you tell her?” he asked as he carried their plates to the table, followed by butter, syrup, utensils, and a refill of his own coffee before sitting down across from Raevynn

She shrugged “I told her I ith you, because I’ to lie about it I also told her I was safe and doing just fine, but that I needed a few days aithout being harassed or bothered, and when I was ready, I’d ”

Collin couldn’t i to constantly check in with anyone He liked his independent life, the freedo anyone’s permission, and while he called his parents occasionally to see how they were doing or texted his sister, he never felt obligated to do either But Raevynn had an entourage of people who looked after her, and if she went , they probably wanted details Which she hadn’t supplied

“I’ to call the nu an answer,” she said, and ate a bite of her pancake “She doesn’t like being ignored”

He arched a brow at her “Do I hear a bit of delight in your tone?”

“Maybe Just a little” She gave him an impish look as she ate half a slice of crisp bacon “I’ht now, and I kind of like it But I’m absolutely fine here with you, and my mother needs to learn that I needmy every move”

He glanced across the table at her, ht had been fueled with es had settled somewhat, he wanted to knohat had prompted Raevynn to run aith him It was a question he’d wondered since the ether

“Sowant to tell ?” Even though he was fairly certain he understood the gist of her reasons, it had been an extre hih money and the means to disappear on her own

A half s I was excited to see you won’t suffice?”