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"Gabrielle," I sigh She hasn’t stopped for a breath, verbally undressing Sy for ive up

"Holly, look at hi my face from the paperwork in front of me "That man is sex on fire You da, dark hair is pulled up into soh theacross the street, to turn and look at ree with her assessment I silently add, but Sy and I are just complicated We s are too et a tattoo fro her elbow on the desk, her head lost in her personal daydrea back toup t clients plus the few I had booked

"You wouldn’t care?" She sounds shocked

"Why would I care? I already told you, he is just someone I know That’s it" I try to let the words be true, but I know I’ toan eye on you I’ve watched hiht be so else for you," she says, pointing toward Sy She shakes her head at me and walks to the back of the salon I look up and catch Sy’s stare; his chin lifts, giving nature nod I aardly raise my hand and wave over at hirin Dropping et back to hsettles over hs the dread I always feel For the first ti the sadness to take over and bringour way," Gabrielle says, walking pastand coat "You okay if I head out? I have to pick up Rosie Derrick’s on late nights this week" Rosie is Gabrielle’s five-year-old daughter and Derrick is her a husband

"Yeah, it’s okay I’ up now" I wave her off, lass door

"See you to us alone in the e up the desk, not quite giving hiiven up" I’ around all day

"Nope, told you, I was on watch all day Hoas your day?"

"Busy," I anshile reaching for oin’ on now?" he questions quietly, watchinghoet so to eat?" he asks

"Eat?"

"Yeah, I’ up," he shrugs, looking around the salon

"I’ht"

"Okay, I’ll order us so ht "What do you like?"

"Uo to bed," I ade internally at the visual of it Sy doesn’t respond Instead, he stands beforeintoat ho I don’t have an appetite

"I watched you all day today; you haven’t stopped No arguing I’ll order you so all conversation of dinner and stoppingafter , you’re not doing a good job So, until you start, I’ll take over for you"

"I don’t need taking care of I’ the words co from my mouth are a lie I can even hear it

"Babe, your clothes are falling off you As beautiful as you are, you look like shit," he points out, and in that split second, the sadness that lives to bringnot five ile by his words Just like me "Don’t even think about it, Holly" He steps forward into ain I’ you become me" His hand reaches for my face, but I pull back at his touch "I’ve watched you I’ve kept ht in the hospital I won’t let you pushhe’s iven you time for that to settle in I think your ti for me That smile you hide behind doesn’t foolabout" I step out of his space, needing a moment to breathe

"This perfected act of yours You think you have everyone fooled" He shakes his head It’s a slow shake, which er takes its place