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“I figured you’d probably look for any chance to get out of seeingfor the past two years” A pained look shot across his face

The htened I blinked back the tears building inslashed at me “I’m really sorry I want you to know that There’s a lot I wish I could change, and hurting you is at the top of that list” I squeezed ether

His face softened “Can alk?” He took his hands out of his pockets and held one arm out to the sidewalk

“Why don’t we go inside? It’s freezing” I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets

His gaze swung up to , if you are?” He turned back tothe uncertainty in his eyes

I nodded and fell in stride beside him We walked in silence for a couple blocks Every few steps, I’d glance over at hiure out why he’d shown up The texts I’d sent hiry now He turned the corner, and I fidgeted with the buttons of my coat

Looking up, I froze, co face-to-face with the chain-link fence

The corner of his mouth lifted “Saw it on the map I had a little tioing right over to the swings and sitting on the hard plastic seat swaying in the wind

I followed him and sat on the one beside hi-cold seat

He wrapped his fingers around the chains and angled his are a lot s to fit his lanky body into the seat

The gentle sound of the links of the chains rubbing against each other as our swings swayed back and forth added a soundtrack to the evening air

“You’ve grown a lot since the last time we sat on these”

He pinched his lips together and nodded before taking a big breath “I wanted to apologize”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” I rushed out

“No, I do—”