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At the same time, I was here without an invitation When we met, he was there to see Kenny where she and I happened to work together He hadn’t asked me to come here I shouldn’t even kno to find hi about? He’d never expressed feelings to me!

Panic snaked up my insides like a vine Somebody spoke, but I couldn’t hear them Heat burned in my cheeks, and when his brow lined, I spun on my heel

“Excuse me” I took off down the hall where Patrick had left our suitcases

Door after door passed I ran on tip-toe, hoping not to make a sound I had no idea which door to choose, so finally, I just picked one Pushing inside, I closed it, turned the lock, and collapsed My body was shaking so hard I tried to calns of occupancy A queen bed was in one corner, but otherwise the space was bare It seemed I’d picked an unclaimed one

Pushing off the door, I rubbed eous hazel eyes under a brow lined in confusion Oh, god! I couldn’t i Stuart and I were not friends If I were lucky Patrick would laugh it off Uncle Bill was a mystery, and Elaine

A soft tap on the doorain

“Mariska?” Elaine called from the other side

Slowly, I went over and opened it She stood blinking at reen eyes a mixture of curiosity and mischief

“What’s going on?” She spoke softly as she walked into the room “Why did you run out like that?”

Pushing the door closed again, I putto be so bad

“Are you okay?” she repeated

Taking a deep breath, I turned around and faced her Being honest seemed like the best course of action at this point “I lied”

Her face lined, but she still was al “About what?”

“I don’t know Stuart I’ my hands

“Wait what? But you said I don’t understand Why?”