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We slept too late Both of us

I snapped alert to the sound of the door, and a faotta show you—"

A feust, I told you she'd be down later—"

"But Mom's always up by now"

I don't kno I got out of bed and into the bathroo a puff of smoke and a memory in Tenn's bed I probably should have felt bad about leaving Tenn to fend for hiust catching me naked in bed with a man

Nothing like this had ever happened before What would I say? What was appropriate to explain to an eight-year-old? And what exactly was I going to explain? Soet some? It was true At this point, I had to admit that But not the truth I wanted to explain to rader

Ugh I stood in the shower for a minute, then pulled on Tenn's robe—because, of course, I didn't grab clothes inso the mess on my head didn't screaust bouncing on the end of the bed, telling Tenn—who'd ed to find a pair of cutoff sweats and my abandoned t-shirt—all about his sleepover with Nicky

I couldn't s with him that should have erased any hint of shyness, but that didn't seeasms, I couldn't seem to handle my son and my new lover at the same time

It wasn't the different, continuing to talk about their pillow fort and how it had fallen dohile they were sleeping as I pulled on shorts beneath the robe and turnedaround, I avoided Tenn's eyes while staust outside for some fresh air

Then, I fled, feeling exactly like the coward I was

Chapter Twenty-Four

TENN