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“Neither was he”

“Goddammit! I am NOT Sloan Reynolds!”

Dex starts to cry, and I clutch hio”

I’my best not to dissolve into the fountain of tears I feel welling up in ain try to step past Derek, but again he stops me “I won’t let you do this to us”

“NO!” Nowthis on me You did this to us when you lied to me When you swore you would be honest with me and the very next day you broke your word”

He’s holding ive in to o, Derek”

“I can never let you go”

My v

oice trembles “Let me put Dex down for his nap”

His grip relaxes, but he doesn’tto you”

I push past hier Once we’re in his room at Mom’s, I lay him in the crib and pull his favorite blanket beside him He clutches the bear close and turns his head away, ready to sleep

For a fewas the first tears drop onto h this I have to believe I’ht

A few o back to the living roo to sleep as I step out and close the door A s in the hallway behind old chain around my neck My breath hitches,around ers

Holding the necklace in ive this back”

“You will not” His face looks as if I’ve slapped hied You still love me”