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I feel Lance tensing up, and as he opens up hishi this won’t help matters

“I’ between Lance and I without glancing at us We stay there in silence, hearing the click of Michael’s shoes across the hallway, and then the door opening and sla shut

“That fucking bastard…” Lance whispers to no one in particular, heading out of the office as if he were in a trance He’s seething; even though he won’t show it, I know that his father's words have gotten to hiet Michael’s words as I get out of his office They hurt, sure, but I’m used to his coldness by now

Lance is sitting on the couch in the fa blankly at the TV There’s so, a ro any of it

After a fewthe front door He slams the door and I hear his motorcade start up and drive away

I have no idea what to say to Lance, but I sit down next to hi up on the couch as I turn to face him

“Thank you,” I say, looking hi to steer the conversation away from his father “I don’t knoould have happened if you didn’t shohen you did…” I shudder, the ain

“Hey, don’t worry… It’s over, that’s all thaton his lips God, I could kiss hiht now… I could just lean in, take his hand in ainst his It would be so easy Too easy

I turn to face the TV,in, I try to calm myself and watch the movie on TV, butpictures, unable to focus on whatever’s happening

We sit in silence for a long while, si Keanu Reeves is kissing Charlize Theron Even though I’ve already watched it when I was younger, the na it, I squeal like a young girl, grabbing Lance’s arm

“Oh, I love thisboth s across Lance’s lap

“Never saw it,” he responds, soes up my spine as I feel his skin on hts to the back of h

“You should,” I respond, grabbing the re “And you will,” I add with a grin Oh, God, what a?

“You’re reallyone eyebrow playfully

“Of course,” I tell him “And it’s not a ro, but I can barely hear my own voice All that I can think about is that I’m on the couch with Lance, and we have the house completely to ourselves