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I walk outside, slowly descending the steps to the beach and pickingby the shoreline, his shoulders tense as he watches the waves break It’s cooler now, the evening sun sinking behind us, casting hazy golden light across the bay

I sit beside him quietly My heart aches for the pain that he’s clearly been carrying for so long, the mysterious events that have carved their wounds so deep

"Talk to me," I say softly "Dex, please Whatever it is…I’m here"

19

DEX

She stayed

I can’t believe it After I freaked out like that, I was sure Alicia would just throw her stuff in the car and get the hell out of here as quickly as she could I wouldn’t have blaned up for I promised her a sexy week of dirty fun, not this: theon the radio, unable to keep the past locked tight in the vault where it belongs

She sits quietly beside me on the beach I can s lotion, and every instinct in my body just wants to hold her, possess her--lose myself in her waret the terrible dae I’ve done

"Dex," she whispers, her voice full of compassion "I promise, you can trust me"

Dammit

I have to clenchfor her Can’t she see I’ but carnage in my wake?

It’s what I do, it’s what I always do

"I’hting to keep it together "All this bullshit…I know it’s not why you’re here You can go," I add, hollow "I’ll understand"

"I’ anywhere"