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Dad’s eyes glint knowingly, and he nods “Yeah, I think that’s a good idea”

I’ivesme to let events take their course

I sit back, wringing my hands in my lap, as Bennet and dad leave the room

Chapter Twenty-Four

Bennet

“I’hten the mood

Rick grins tightly, as he looks overin front of hi at a cold winter “If I thought I had a chance, I’d floor you right here”

I snort “We both know you could I’ve seen you fight, remember”

He laughs “Those MMA sessions overseas I guess I tried to block them from my memory Remember how Jenkins used to kick our asses?”

“At the start,” I say, re fondly “But we’re quick learners”

We pause and watch as a bird lands at the edge of the yard, chirping

“I need to ask for Rory’s hand in ht

Rick nods shortly “I thought you ht You almost said it back there, didn’t you? That you love her?”

“I do love her, Rick”

I try to keep hten hihter But when I turn to hi broadly, even if it has a shaky disbelieving quality to it

“This is all so insane,” he says

“Tell me about it,” I mutter dryly

“But the craziest part is, I’ht it ever since Sary, because, shit, I’d convinced myself Lorelei had just filled her head with silly ideas You kno young people are”

“Rory isn’t like that,” I say softly

It isn’t hter, but I feel like I have to say so

“I know,” Rick says “I see that now I’ve never seen either of you like this before”

I wait for hiet there in his own tie into the house and fall to one knee All less noith the e me want to beat my chest and roar from a mountaintop that Rory is mine and alill be