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The car jerked to a stop as he hastily pulled into her parking place and turned off the ignition He released his seatbelt and leaned over to wind his fingers in her hair as he spoke in hushed tones

“From the moment we met I’ve been helpless to resist your siren’s call I don’t knohat you see in s, but I arateful I

have a lot to tell you tonight, and I’m not sure how you’ll feel about me when I’m done”

“Oliver, I l—”

“No, wait until after you know everything before you say those words to me”

He placed a gentle kiss on her lips before he moved away She sat in stunned silence as he exited the car and caer side to help her out Each step they took filled her with more fear as her mind became overrun ild scenarios By the time they reached her apartment her nerves were stretched taut like a bow She unlocked the door, and walked over to the couch where she sat with her hands in her lap and waited for him to lock up and join her

Instead of sitting, Oliver paced the floor in front of her

“You knoife died a few years back in a car accident, but what you don’t know is I was the one driving”

“What?”

“It was raining, and the car beside us swerved into our lane I veered to the left to avoid hitting the I could do once the tires began to spin Our car crashed into the guard rail and went off the embankment and into the water below”

His face lost all color and he trereen eyes were dazed, and she knew instantly he was somewhere else

“I knew the minute we hit the water our time was limited But the impact slammed my head into the as dazed By the tied, and sinking like a stone I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned to Hannah, only to find her unconscious and slumped in her seat I leaned over to try to wake her, but she was out cold The water was up to my neck, and I took one last deep breath before ere fully subed I tried to free her froe, and she wouldn’t wake up Tiny bubbles shot fro in the water I never felt so helpless in s began to burn and o black Self preservation took over and I swan to the surface… and I left her there”

Her jaw dropped What did you say to a story like that? A part of her was horrified that he’d left Hannah, but what sense would hi make? Unlike Roedy to end in a two-person death count She glanced up and felt her heart bleed Oliver stood in the aze trained on the floor His shoulders were slouched and the air of defeat and depression was alible She’d never seen him look so broken

“Oliver” She stood from her seat and walked over to stand beside him in the middle of the room “Look at me” Juni placed her hand beneath his chin and lifted his head

“It wasn’t your fault You didn’t cause the accident, and you did all you could”