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“Monroe, why don’t you grab the iced tea off the counter and pour us each a glass?”

“Sure, Gram”

I bent low and kissed my mom’s cheek, but then quickly crossed the kitchen before she said anything Our relationship had always been ile

But the road back to good, though fragile, wasn’t one I was scared of anymore

I poured four iced teas and leaned against the counter sipping mine while Gram served peach cobbler I hadn’t had breakfast yet, but the thought of food—any kind of food—made my stomach turn

“Nathan hasn’t called, has he?” I finally asked when I couldn’t stand it anyes, and I thought maybe he’d called the house

Gra”

“Who’s Nathan?” Dad asked, sitting a little straighter in his chair as he fingered his glass

The boy that I love

Just then, a loud rap sounded on the back door that Nate always used and my heart nearly beat out of my chest as I watched it slowly open

Nathan strode into the kitchen, his tall, lean form still in the wrinkled, dirty clothes he’d worn the day before He hadn’t shaved in a few days, and his jaas shadohile his hair was a wild mess—a hot, sexy, wild mess that haloed his head in burnished waves

Burnished waves that I wanted to touch

He pulled up short and my heart turned over when I sa tired he looked

“Hey,” I said softly

He heldseconds and then atte his hands into the front of his jeans, he slowly looked around the room