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“That” Abigail waved a hand toward hi embarrassed about where you live Ityour house is or what your bedroom looks like”

Oh osh, did she just tell him how she felt?

Kaden scratched his aruess I”

“Do you really think that matters to me?”

Kaden shrugged, refusing to meet her eye “I don’t know Does it? IYou have this monstrous house Your family drives beamers and Mercedes—”

“That’s so unfair You knohat? Never mind,” she said, then stood to leave

Behind her, she heard the squeak of bedsprings, followed by the thud of Kaden’s footsteps before a hand curled around her wrist

“Abigail, wait”

She whirled on hier into his chest “Yeah, I live in a nice, really big house I havepool in my backyard,” she said between clenched teeth “But that doesn’t ain,him take a step back “I know, in reality, we haven’t known each other long But if you honestly think I care about how nice your house is or where you live or what you don’t have versus what you do, then you don’t know ht you were Maybe all that talk about liking me ever since I read that poem was all a load of bull”

Her throat ached until the burningno idea why it bothered her so ers pointed at his chest and held theainst his ribs

His eyes softened “Do you wanna know the real reason I don’t have a cell phone or the internet? It’s because after , and not just froe and credit cards From all her treatments, all the experimental therapies insurance didn’t cover, and then her funeral Dad sunk every di her alive”

Kaden’s adaazed at him warily as he continued, “I saw the bill once It’s e education And he won’t let me work to help out It’s why he couldn’t miss his shift today It’s why I sneak odd jobs to save extra cash for school”

He paused, taking a step closer to her until only a breath’s space stood between them “I don’t think you care about any of that I’et”

He squeezed his eyes closed, allowing her the opportunity to take hi She noted the constellation of freckles on his nose and the delicate sound his breathing made when he was upset She took in the hard line of his jaw, the bit of stubble fores and soap

When he opened his eyes, his gaze fell to her et insecure about it”