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But I feel okay The first tiory I freaked out Went to the bathroom, sat on the floor and had a panic attack he never knew about He didn’t know about any of them Once I calmed doashed my face like I just did here and went back into the rooood not to have to s in his rooo shorts and a t-shirt It shouldn’t look as gorgeous on hilasses and slips them on It’s the first ti, "Have a little too ht?"

"I’m cool" His voice sounds distant I’irl he sleeps with I don’t knohy I didn’t really expect it with us I don’t know if I care or not I definitely shouldn’t care

I shakewith this It’s supposed to be easy and if he’s going to be a jerk afterward, it’s not worth it

Colt follows me out and we’re quiet for the ten minute drive to my dorm

"Let me know…about your mom" I reach for the handle as he pulls into the lot

The only reply I get is a nod of his head Again, whatever

I open the door, get out and close it We’re supposed to be old enough to sleep together without it being aard the next day Especially when I can tell that’s what he does--sleeps with people he never plans on being serious about

I’m almost to the steps when I hear hi outside the driver’s door looking at

"Tick tock," I say

"Did it help?" His words cohtness in my shoulders evaporates I let out a deep breath and suddenly knoe’ll be okay That whatever it is--this charade we’re playing is still intact

"Yeah…yeah it did You?"

Then he sh to know if his di

"Yep" Colt clio inside Sain when I walk into s

One glance takes the s her

"Hey," I say to Aunt Lily when I pick up the phone

"Cheyenne! I’ve been so worried about you Don’t avoid me like that anyether"

And I knohat she’s saying She’s Mohter We’re all that’s left of her I hate how I’ her, but can’t seehtens around my phone

"I won’t"

"I’hs "We want to have a service for her, Cheyenne"

"What!?" I pace the roohtens Don’t freak out, don’t freak out, don’t freak out

Why is this even a surprise? I should have expected it It’s noroodbye"

Does she deserve it? Yes she does, but then she left me She still left me and it was so nor back What if she went in those woods and killed herself?

"I…"

"It will be good for us, Cheyenne I want a place to go see her She’s been alone all this time" Lily’s voice cracks "She was my baby sister" The pain in her voice stabs intowith me?

"I know I’m sorry Let’s do it"

The words cooodbye, that one

~CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE~

Colt

I can’t fucking believe I’ for her to co mom Adrian’s only met her in person once I don’t do this, but Mo me crazy about it for the past three days I can’t disappoint her over so the ga another level to it? Another lie we can both play and pretend is really a good idea I’m not stupid I know it’s not, but I knohen I touch her it takesneed a mental break To lose myself in her heat

"Hey," she says fros are firm and now I know it’s because she danced Of course she’s wearing a skirt because she may not realize it, but in some ways she really is a princess

Heat scorches beneath , take her back to her rooo back to your room" I take a step toward her, almost touch her but stop This situation we’re in is so screwed up because it’s a lie and I don’t kno to act around her

Fuck it I let rip her waist "It’ll be a lot ainst her ear

"Colt" It sounds like a warning, but she leans her head to the side to give ue in the hollow spot behind her ear

"Let’s go" I pull her against me and let her feel the reactionus"

I kiss a trail to her ured I’d call on the way"

Thisto be one of those things girlsass deal of when it really doesn’t matter "Don’t do that Co me to , I pull away "It’s not a big deal I was going to call her before ent"