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I glanced over at Tho at me I finally walked over to him, and his shoulders relaxed

I slipped my hands under his arainst his lower chest "Thomas…"

He touched his lips to my hair "Yes?"

Someone turned down the music, and Trenton walked over to Ca her to the center of the room He knelt onto one knee and held up a small box

Thomas pulled away fro for a second or two Then, he leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I’m sorry" He took a few steps backward and then quietly walked along the back wall, creeping behind the crowd, until he reached the exit

After one last glance at Camille as she covered her lass door just enough to slip outside

Jih for anyhis new fiancée The crowd closed in around theently patting lass door "We’ll see you at the house, Jied Tho lot

My sweater did little to stave off the Midwest’s early spring tehter aroundthe sidewalk to the back of the hotel

"Thomas?" I called

A drunk man appeared from behind a beater Chevrolet that was older than I was He wiped the vomit from his mouth and stuether

I stopped and held out et to my car Please step aside"

"Are you stayin’ ’ere, sweet thing?"

I raised an eyebrow His beer gut and stained shirt didn’t scream catch, but he clearly didn’t see it that way

"I’ He smiled, his eyes half-closed

"It’s nice to meet you, Joe I can see you’ve had a lot to drink, so please don’t touch et totoward the lot

"That one" I pointed in a vague direction, knowing it wouldn’tto whatever music was in his head

"No, thank you"

I sidestepped, but he caught hed "I don’t want to hurt you Please let go"

He tugged on ers and pulled them back He cried out in pain and then fell to his knees

"Okay, okay!" he pleaded

I let go of his hand "The next time a woman tells you not to touch her, you listen If you only reht"--I poked his temple and pushed his head--"re out in white wisps Instead of atteroaned "You can’t sleep here, Joe It’s cold Get up, and go inside"