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"Mm-hm?"

"What about you?"

I slowly looked over at her and eyed the paper in her hand like it was poison "Uh, I thought you knew that I’ what to say about Charlie Because I didn’t knoe were

We weren’t anything, but at the sanificant I’d been trying to figure out a way to tell Words for four days now that I was about to walk away But every night when she responded to me, the words wouldn’t cohout told me that, and more I knehich one I couldn’t stand to lose, so as saying good-bye to Words proving to be so difficult?

I didn’t understand it, and I didn’t knohat to do about it

Mrs LaRue pattedthe list of names and numbers

I also didn’t kno to tella wife I wasn’t sure I ever wanted a wife anyway "I’ for the day when you or Graham realize it’s time to settle down so you can have families of your own Don’t you see how happy everyone is here with their fah escaped h my teeth, I cockeddown’ and ‘fa on my list They aren’t even in my vocabulary You know I hate kids"

She pursed her lips, studying ht thatwell, never mind," she said with disappointment as she stood, then turned toward the kitchen "However, I will get through to one of you, one of these days!"

"She never stops," Graha room "It’s constant She already has Aly, and pretends Keith is her grandkid too She’s not waiting on , but it’s as if she thinks I’ to be able to have kids or sohed when he did, but it sounded distracted My attention had left Graham the second he’d said Keith’s naotten there twenty o I didn’t hear or see either of thee

Where are you? Do you need one," Graham mumbled

I stilled, and slowly letGod he hadn’t seen it

There was that guilt again, creeping through my body I kneould continue to slowly consuht, I vowed I’lanced at one "You really like Charlie? You really changing for her?"

I gave him a look, and huffed "Has it really taken you a lanced down at es

Charlie Girl: Already here In the kitchen

Grahaain, but I stood up and walked toward the kitchen without looking back at his had been a little strained between us around the house for a while, but I saw him all the time For now, I needed to see my Charlie Girl

As soon as I rounded the corner into the LaRues’ kitchenher in as I closed the distance between us

"You’re here," I said when I took the final step up to her and tried to pull her into my arms, but Charlie took a step to the side