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My breath catches It’s thehe’s said to me Maybe that anyone has ever said tofroory’s there

Colt tenses againstinto h His eyes are hard on Colt "This is her mom’s service, if you didn’t notice You could wait to take advantage of her until later, don’t you think?"

I swear I feel Colt’s body overheat "Jealous I can take care of her better than you? It’s okay, Pretty Boy, I’ve kicked your ass irl too"

Colt’s words feel like a slap across ory off, but they hit every button inside ory steps into the room and Colt moves toward him

"Excusenow Colt doesn’t turn around to look at et out of here so we can finish where we left off?" Colt says "I don’t feel like fucking with you today"

There’s a fist aroundI don’t knohy I’, hate that Gregory is here and then the coffin--that big black box her bones are probably lost in flashes through ory are round I turn away fro it? My vision blurs I can’t catch le and then arms are there The door slams and I’m on the floor in soood"

A hand runs through ood I fucked up I shouldn’t have done that shit today Take a deep breath"

I fight through the panic, following Colt’s voice

I find his blue eyes His sad lips Gregory

I struggle to get out of Colt’s hold

"He’s gone I locked the door It’s okay"

Now I’et out of his lap and stand up I open -o-war, but he stops ood at this stuff I don’t do this stuff I react and that’s what I did It was the wrong thing to do"

I can’t say anything to his apology, because I know this isn’t what he signed up for but he’s here and he’s doing it and it’s not like I’m perfect either

"It’s not even hihten o downstairs"

Colt stops ? For the panic attacks?"

I shake my head Not anymore "I don’t need medication I’ve handled them for years I’d be fine if everyone would just leave me the hell alone"

But I’h the rest of the day Colt is always there, but we don’t touch It’s not the same as it was before the freak out

When I pull up in front of his house, I sit there, not sure what to do

"Corateful for it

I turn off the car and go inside We head straight for Colt’s rooet to his room He opens his drawer and tosses a t-shirt at me I’m so shocked I almost miss it

Colt starts to undress first He lies his slacks on a chair and then his shirt I figure I need to start doing the sa so I take my dress off, pantyhose and then slip on his shirt

What are we doing? Usually he’s undressing ht, would ya?" he says before clied Hoill I find you?" I tease and he cracks a sht and get into bed wearing my panties and Colt’s t-shirt I wait for hi his tongue and teeth

Instead he pulls oes around my waist and it fits so perfectly there

"I fucked up," he says again "That shouldn’t have gone down earlier"

His words aren’t expected, but somehow they’re what I need "I know It’s okay" Pause, and then, "I can’t believe she’s gone"

Colt squeezes hter Kisses o too"

And I know he’s hiding Doesn’t want me to see him when he says stuff like that Can’t be that close Me? I’o Finally, a tear slips froo to sleep

~CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE~

Colt

I’ with the stereo It’s the first day I’ve seen her since herto have this huge ass conversation like girls like to have Yeah she stayed and yeah we didn’t have sex We both knohat happened--or that nothing happened The end