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FORD

I made it to the bottom of the stairs and yanked atdown, I sat on the steps People ca around ure out who the hell the guy sitting there about to lose his shit was, but I didn’t care

Being put on display ca my heart ripped out of my chest I’d do whatever she needed I’don with her so she wouldn’t be alone I never wanted her to think she’d lost out on being a part of our group, a part of our Kings family because of what had happened

I pushed off the steps, the cold stone driving the e, Ford Show her howyour word My hand wrapped around the door handle, and I stood, frozen Sorip kept it closed

They raised an eyebrow at ainstthis place without her made the floor shift beneath my feet

Spinning around, I raced for the steps It couldn’t end like this Our tiuess what? I didn’t care Bu into someone, I skidded to a halt at the bottom of the steps when, halfway up, Liv caazes collided Other people stood on the stairs, along the railing up above her and behind me

“You were coht it banished the dreariness in my heart

“I was I am”

“I thought you said you were going to leave”

“I was, but I couldn’t I couldn’t open the door”

A woman’s voice ca it closed I thought he was a psycho or so to rob the place”

I let out a laugh that sounded more like a bark

“Why couldn’t you leave?” She came down a step, and I went up one

“There are a lot of promises I’ve made to myself over the past week, and one of the any I could stay away froest one I’ve ever told There’s nothing in this world that I want more than to be there for you, to love you and show you how much you mean to me”

“What if I don’t want that?” She came down a step, and I went up another The people around us stared No one said a word Every eye in the entire place was on us, and more people came in behind s of what they’d seen so far Any other day, it would’ve sent