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Connor’s eyes filled with emotions “Don’t cry You know I’ll cry if you cry”

“I’ at her tears

I couldn’t help but laugh at the pregnant woman’s emotions that hit her husband’s emotions just as deeply I swore it was as if they were one heart that was placed between two souls

“It blows my mind how in touch with your emotions you both are, and somehow Damian is your best friend”

Connor looked in the direction of the bathroom and then back to ether “Okay, well, while he’s gone, we can give you a crash course on how to deal with Damian”

“Oh, I like this idea! Like How To Damian 101!” Aaliyah exclai a mental breakdown over hurowls or huffs or griression to push people away Stand tall and huff right back if you have to”

“That’s a solid one And two: don’t let him disrespect you Make it knohen he actually hurts your feelings Sometimes he’s so blunt that he doesn’t even realize it But if you notify him that you were hurt by his words or actions, you’ll see the flash of realization in his eyes Then his following actions will showcase his apology Soh his actions He’s very uy”

“Number three: he has past trauma that he won’t talk about, but he does fear abandonment So, he keeps people at a distance,” Aaliyah whispered as she noticed Damian exit the bathroom

“And nu in toward me “Tell the fucker to fuck off sometimes Ninety-nine percent of the time, he doesn’t deserve to be told that But there is that one percent when he needs to be put in his place He respects people who stand up for themselves and stand up to him”

“Yeah, and don’t forget that he’s huin “Just break hiood stuff”

8

Damian

After dinner, Stella and I stood outside, waiting for the valet to pull Connor’s rental car around the corner Aaliyah and Connor both ran off to the restroo beside one another

And, of course, good ole Stella couldn’t stand in silence for too long before she struck up a conversation

“Your friends are so nice” Stella tilted her head toward ure out why you’re such a jerk”

And here we go again

“Different upbringings,” I muttered

“Yes Maybe Aaliyah h and—”

“Don’t be ignorant”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“If you were co up in the foster systerew up alike, then you’re ignorant”

“I didn’t even know Aaliyah grew up in foster care Maybe if you actually letat”