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“Just say it, Dao ahead and say it”

“It botherstall

“What bothers you?”

“The way he drinks, and the way he speaks to you when he drinks The way he yells at you when he’s hungover That bothers me”

“I—”

“Does he hurt you?” he cut in, stepping closer to me

“You can’t keep asking me that, Damian,” I whispered

“I’ll stop asking when you stop lying about it, Stella”

I sed hard, feeling chills race up and down my arms “He’s never hit me,” I said sternly, certain

Da expression His ocean blue eyes looked on the verge of despair as he stared my way His expression alone almost made me fall to my knees and cry

“Stella,” he whispered, inching closer So close that the space between us was mere inches So close that the heat froainst my skin His mouth parted as he spoke a truth I didn’t even think of uncovering “That isn’t the only way a man can hurt a woman”

“I… he’s…” I felt confused Uncertain of what it was that Damian even wanted me to say “Jeff isn’t as bad as you think”

“I hope you treat yourself as kindly as you do others, but judging by your choice of partnership, I doubt it”

“That’s e of tears

“Then I apologize,” he replied “I do not mean to offend I simply mean to speak facts”

“It’s not facts It’s your opinion”

“Trust me, Stella It’s facts”

“Stella! My phone’s dead I need you to drive me back to my car,” Jeff shouted “Hurry, will you?”

Damian stepped backward

I stood still, shaken up by the whole situation “Sorry, I have to go,” Ipast him to leave the room

“Stella”

“Yes?”

“He’s not the hero in your romantic comedy,” Damian stated I looked over to those blue eyes of his as he continued “He’s the dick boyfriend in the opening credits”

After Jeff and I over, so I cooked hiies to come, but he did say he was sorry for the way he treated me Then he threw me for a loop