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“No This is about love and respect They don’t want to agitate a fresh wound It’s only been a couple of months, babe”

He grits his teeth and shakes his head His jaw ticks and his hands ball into fists The frustration that rolls off him makes the air heavy

“You’re too hard on yourself” I step into hier, and cup his face “You went back to work aRolly, a busy schedule, and PT Yes, you have some setbacks every now and then We both do, and it’s completely normal Please don’t tear yourself up over this”

“I wish I could see the world through rose-colored glasses”

“Believeto sit here and allow you to berate yourself when it’s so undeserved My boyfriend is s as hell”

His lips curve upward, and he bestows me with that smile that makes my knees turn to jelly

“Boyfriend?”

I nod “See, I would never date a coward, so clearly whoever you’re talking about is now Oliver Hemnway”

He pulls me to hile, and the dark cloud hanging over him passes

“You’re too good to me Thank you for that I was stuck on a loop I’m not sure what I want to do They don’t necessarily need me on site I can assist remotely”

I just labeled us I can speak up now I rub the soft material of his button-up flannel between er “Please, don’t”

“What’s that, sassy?”

Anyone else would befrom him, like a compliment “I don’t want you to”

His lids lower and fire flickers in the depths of his ir

ises “You worried about me?”