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The h her purse to retrieve her keys

“Let me take you home”

She stopped ru and hesitated a moment before she looked up at me Her eyes ide, and color had drained from her face “Malcolm, I—”

“It’s not what you think”

Her parents had hinted to it earlier, so I already knew the first thought that popped into her head I looked forward to the day I could make love to her, but I knew today was not that day It was too soon, for both of us Si her in my arms, that would be a dream, but she wasn’t ready for that either She barely wantedher

“You’ve had a little tooyou home I’ll crash on the couch”

“Oh I’ll be fine I mean, I am fine”

I started to object, but she put her hand up to silence me “Malcolm, today…all of this I need time…to process”

I’d gotten more than I’d expected, so I dropped it I stepped toward her, and she took a step back I remembered the look of fear she had on her face at the house And the panicked looked she’d just given estion

I ive her more space “I understand”

Her shoulders relaxed, and she breathed a sigh of relief “Thank you”

Relieved I tried to tell myself it wasn’t personal I tried to tell myself it was because of what he’d done to her, but it still stung

She unlocked her car and started to climb in, but stopped She hesitated for a moment before she walked over, stretched up on her tiptoes to put her ared me My eyes closed I let ht, reveling in theshe hadn’t done in two years

“I love you, Ginger,” I whispered

She tensed then pulled away “Goodnight, Mal”