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My eyes opened and I found e chair I slowly sat up as Ian ca out onto the patio with a cup in his hand

“I hope you drink coffee because I brought you some”

“Thank you,” I said as I took the cup from him

“Cream?” he asked as he held up the carton

“Just a little” I sht air I looked out at the cal its beauty in the clear blue sky Ian took a seat in the lounge chair next to ht and saw you sleeping here, you looked so peaceful, and I didn’t want to disturb you There’s nothing like waking up with the war you”

“It’s beautiful here” I s, Aurora?”

I looked at him sternly because I’d asked hiies It’s just Aurora is the na Beauty”

The pit of my stomach started to ache andthese things toI’irl with a hed softly

Ian smiled and turned his head towards the ocean as I asked him a question that I wanted to know the answer to

“Hoas your date last night?”

“It was fine Why do you ask?”

“I’ to make conversation, that’s all”

“Why would you make my date the topic of conversation, Rory? Why not start the conversation by telling me who you are and where you’re from and, most importantly, ere you hurt and who did it? Was it your boyfriend?”

I wouldn’t look at him as I sipped my coffee and stared out into the depths of the ocean “What makes you think I have a boyfriend?” I asked

“Daot up from his chair He knelt down next to me and cupped my chin in his hand “If you won’t tell ot up and walked away

The fact of theup, I was never allowed to tell anybody anything Everything about ht, Ian yelled fro us So, come inside, now”

I turned and looked at hiot up from my chair and walked back inside the house Mandy, one of theroom where Ian and another woman sat He stared at me as I entered the room and told me to have a seat

“Rory, I would like you to meet Adalynn”