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So I tell him

I tell hi with my dream of the ranch for some reason, which h the rest of the story

“Really?” is all he says once I’ Hoe need to move quickly so as to avoid catastrophe with my parents

“You really drea his head to himself

“Not ‘we’,” I clarify “Me Noill you hurry up?” I plead “Can you pleeeease just go along with this? Just drop me home and lay low until I convince my parents that I’m fine… Then we can—”

I’et aith this withoutremains constant

In the end, it’s he hionna be as he pulls me close once I sit down like he’s told me to

“I said yesterday Natasha that I’m not ashamed to be with you and you shouldn’t be ashamed of me either…”

I stifle a groan, hearingto come to life as he continues

“I think you should call your mom, call your dad and have them both come here They could even stay a while if they want There’s a guest house by the pool”

Michael genuinely sounds pleased with his idea, and I know for a fact he’s not kidding

Feeling , it eventually bursts Kind of like a bubble in oing to happen

Like it or not

It has to happen sooner or later

I do love Michael, and I know he loves me too

Why would I want to keep us a secret?

It has to come out sooner or later

“We can drive over there if itme off

“I won’t leave you anywhere, Natasha You know that,” he reminds me in the same matter-of-fact tone of his

“It doesn’tit’ll be the biggest load off ree it’s for the best

What else can I do?

Arguing with Michael once he’s made up his mind is useless

“Can you at least put soh as I look hi him naked to my dad like that