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The guy stu, and came back at Micha with his fists out But the threat in Micha’s eyes made him rethink it and he shied away into the crowd

When Micha aiaze at me, I was thrown off by the intensity "Go intoyou’ll regret"

"Fuck you," I replied, hating to fight with hi onasshole"

His expression softened and he offered his hand toto protect you from stuff You’re drunk and you’re dressed like…" His eyes strayed uphis eyes "Just please come lie doith me"

I snatched hold of his hand and he steered me up in front of hio of me until we reached his roo uneasy, which was very unlike him "Do you want one ofreally, really weird" I sat down on the bed, unfastened the strap ofon the other one "What’s wrong with you tonight? Did a girl blow you off or soirl, unless it’s you" He released his lip ring fro the bands on his wrists "I think I should be the one asking you what’s wrong I’ve never seen you dress like that"

"I’m fine" I slipped my foot out of the shoe and turned around to cli different"

I turned around to get under the covers and when I faced hiain, he had an a the blanket over naled forI just can’t believe you showed up wearing that"

Fu, I rolled to my side and put my back to him "What’s-his-face froot into bed withhis body closer to … it’s just surprising That’s all" He placed a hand lightly on my hip and my stomach fluttered, which it had never done before

A loud breath escaped ers he hadn’t heard it He edged nearer, so his chest was touching my back and his warm breath feathered my skin

"Ella?" He sounded choked up

It took h to speak "Yeah"

The silence that followed drove me crazy

"Sweet dreams," he finally said and kissed the back ofback at theas really going on

Stuffing the dress and shoes into , I hurry downstairs and run into Caroline in the kitchen Her black hair is sticking up all over the place and she has a set of striped paja, and when she sees ht you were in bed," she says "Are you an early riser too?"

I swing the bag ontowas just an exception"

She collects her cup of coffee and pulls out a chair at the table "Did you want so to the floor, I pourin the steam "God, I love caffeine"

She adds soulp "I’d like to take some pictures of you and Micha later today, if you don’t mind I always take pictures around the holidays"

"Okay," I say "I have to ask Micha, but I’ed pause "I’d like to take some of you, Dean, and your dad too"

My expression plummets as I lower my cup back to the table "What did Dean have to say about that?"

"He said he’d do it" She gets up to put the reed to it"

I strain a suess that’s fine withhesitant "Dean’s a little different than he used to be I think anyway I think his therapy sessions are really helping" She pauses to take a drink "You know it took hi"