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“I don’t want to fight anymore while we’re here,” she said softly behind me

Stacking wood inside the hearth, I nodded “I don’t want to either It got ugly, and I apologize for that I said sos that you didn’t deserve”

“We both said things we shouldn’t have”

“And you were right,” I confessed as the fire ignited I walked back to the bed and crawled in beside her “I am a perfectionist I do care what people think I’ a sick obsession at ti you into that addiction of mine For that, I’m also sorry”

“I’ve had to be perfect my entire life,” she said as she drank the last of her tea and put down her cup “So I understand”

“But I shouldn’t have been one of those people in your life I shouldn’t have expected you to be anything but the Bellamy that I… that I care for You are perfect You don’t need to try”

I didn’t ue, but now that I ad back

Bellamy studied my face for several moments and then said, “You don’t need to be someone you aren’t around me, Emmett I like the man you are Just the way you are”

She reached for the e it toeach other Let’s battle our eneether from now on”

Taking a sip of the tea, I watched the fire lick the wood in away “Truce We’re al theet this far, and we’re close to it all being over” I placed the cup down and turned my body to face her

I considered kissing her God, I wanted to kiss her

But I didn’t want to push too hard She went through a lot tonight, and I didn’t want to turn the night to be about ain At least with me I wanted her to feel safe with me

“It hasn’t been all hell,” she said with a big yawn “I’h school, or the rich businesslad to have finally met you”

“I’lad I chose you, Bellamy I don’t think I’ve told you that before, and I know I definitely haven’t always shown it But I’lad it was you I chose”

She s the blankets up around her chin She yawned again as her eyes grew heavy “Goodnight, Elad you chose me too”

15

BELLAMY