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The corner of her lip lifted, and her eyes were flooded once again, but this time there was a shtly

"I was so afraid to tell you about what I’d done," she said against his neck "The only people who know are hbors who broke downlike a crazy person Janecia doesn’t even know All she knows is I had a breakdown and had to start seeing a therapist I was afraid you’d see me differently--lose respect for , Brandon" She pulled away and their eyes locked That gentle innocence he’d been drawn to way back when, reflected in the way she looked into his eyes now "I love you," she whispered

For a moment, he froze Aside from his mother, no one else had ever said these words to him, and it nearly suffocated hi the disappointment in her eyes when he didn’t immediately respond

"You do?"

She nodded nervously "I do"

This was the last thing he expected to hear tonight, especially after everything they’d just discussed As terrified as he was to adot that look froiven him when he promised he’d never ride a motorcycle It was suspicious, and he knehy "I do" He laughed, hugging her tightly then kissing the top of her head "You just caught ainst hers "I love you, Ms Brady"

She laughed, and it was a beautiful sound--beautiful and satisfying--considering she’d been so eant Billings," she whispered against his lips

"Yes, rowl as he stood up and lifted her in his ar like the luckiest hteen

The following Friday Regina walked out of his bedroo more than Brandon’s Padres T-shirt and panties as she often did after work during the week She infor Janecia and Clay for appetizers and drinks like they had the past few Friday nights

Brandon chose his words carefully because he didn’t want to ignite anything, but he had a feeling she’d be regretting this later "Babe, you can’t just stop talking to your best friend over this I kno strongly you feel about it, but do you really want such a long friendship with soina opened up the box of pizza she’d ordered in lieu of their date night out "It’s not ending," she said, pulling a slice out of the box and setting it onto a paper plate but didn’t look at hi for Puerto Nuevo"

"Oh," Brandon said, feeling like a co he wanted was to have her thinking about this all night Mercifully, before he could co She walked away from the pizza on the table and into the kitchen where she’d left her phone

Brandon walked over to the pizza box and opened it, exaourmet pizza she’d ordered from her favorite place Unlike the pizzas he was used to with lots of red sauce, she’d arlic sauce, so the whole thing was e

He’d just taken a bite of the pizza and the flavors had exploded in his ina’s conversation and froze

"She’s datingslowly, he waited as Regina paused and he heard the refrigerator door open "Get out!" she said, suddenly sounding a little too giddy for someone who’d just walked away in such a so hiain while Brandon sed down his pizza It went down a little harder than he’d expected

"Oh,Did she say if he’s still surfing? I wonder if he still looks the sa that, Brandon started toward the kitchen He didn’t want to be petty, but Regina’s interest in her Ricardo was irritating as shit, so he figured he h to hear every word It wasn’t like she’d hushed her voice or was trying to keep this conversation private, so he leaned against the kitchen entryway and took another bite, looking straight at her Suddenly, she seemed uncomfortable It was almost as if it’d just hit her that Brandon could hear what she’d been talking about

Clearing her throat, she turned away and reached into the fridge "No, don’t be silly" Now she lowered her voice,Brandon cheer in an effort to re soa back to Brandon with a smile "We were about to eat I’ll call you later Letup and put the phone down on the counter "You want a soda?" she asked, reaching back for the refrigerator handle

Brandon shook his head, staring at her as he stuck the last piece of pizza in his mouth and continued to chew