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Ginger rolled her eyes as she took her seat She tried to look angry, but I spotted a set used to Us sitting, having dinner like a family, I could do this every day She made me want this I watched as she cut up pieces of the slice into a eable bite-size for Shawn She brushed the hair fro his The atmosphere was relaxed, just as it should be with us

After dinner, Ginger cleaned up Shaho’d et pizza sauce all over his face and clothes I wasn’t sure how ht s his face red He even had some in his hair She carried hiot the movie ready

Forty-five minutes into the le, on the rug surrounded by the CD cases he’d pulled down to play with Apparently, anized music collection made for a better toy than the items his mother travelled with

“I should take him home”

“A, you’re gonna onna have to spend hours ofmy CD—”

“What? You told me it was okay when I tried to stop him”

“I’ of a deal”

I reached out, letting er trace the outline of her jaanted to kiss her, but stopped, recalling the look on her face at the house She’d look nervous, or scared I couldn’t tell which, but I knew neither was a good option Then she’d flinched when I went to open her car door That same nervous look was all over her face now I dropped my hand

She stood “I really should go”

“How long will I face this?” I stood as she had “Because I’m more than prepared to knock that damn wall down brick by brick”

“What are you talking about?”

“I want us, Ginger I want us to work I want ether” I stepped closer to her

She put her hands onme at a distance

“Mal…”

“I know, you need tiive you that, but what I can’t and won’t do is continue to be kept at a distance I let you do that for two years I respected that you needed time to heal and that you’d rather do it alone than let me help you, but now…” I wrapped ive us a chance A real chance That’s all I’”