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“Wait” I caught her around the waist and dragged her close again “Kiss me, first”

“Roainst my chest and stared up at me with more love than I deserved, “I’ll kiss you first, last, and forever Just say when”

“Good” My voice cracked Her words soothed ed soul “Because you’re my first, last, and forever”

“Mine too” She stroked my cheek “Always”

Chapter Forty-Eight

Roman

After my return, Juliet and I created the domestic bliss we’d talked about before I was sent away

WeWhile she was at school, I explored the tools in the garage and taught myself how to fix up the equipment that hadn’t been hbors clear their drivehenever it snowed Eventually, I needed to find a real job and figure out what I was doing with e off Juliet forever

No matter how hard I tried to bury it, the bitterness froered I finally understood all those stories Ulfric and Dex had shared Why they rejected society’s rules and lived by their own Not that I was ready to patch in to one of their clubs Juliet was the only family I needed She was the person I trusted with my life, and the only one in the world I’d die to protect

I kept an eye out for Juliet’s aunt and uncle Swore one tiht her uncle’s pickup truck do a slow drive-by of the house By the tione

One afternoon, close to winter break, Pip came home with Juliet

“What’re you doing here, kid?” I opened my arms but waited for him to come to me

He threw his arht the kid was capable of, considering howhim

“Why didn’t you coainst my shirt

I patted his back and gently returned the embrace

Over his shoulder, I caught Juliet’s glossy eyes

“No point Got my GED while I was at the detention center”

He pulled away “Squire and Janet got sent away not long after you They admitted that they set you up Why didn’t you come back?”

“Wasn’t given the option” I clasped his shoulder and ducked to meet his troubled eyes “Who’s your roommate now?”

“He’s younger than ht Still sucks his thuive him crap about it”