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No I had to focus I looked into his eyes "We were two people ere experiencing weakness at the saainst reed My eyes closed again This wasn’t going well forto be here for a while, maybe we should at least keep one of our rules"

"Be friends?" My eyes opened as he stepped away from me and held his hand out for me to shake I could be his friend I could tame my hormones and be his friend I shook his hand and it was done We were officially friends We didn’t let go of the handshake I could see it in his eyes that he wanted exactly what I was secretly longing for I ran ue across my upper lip and pulled him closer to me "Maybe one more soda pop For the road?"

"Like a final hurrah?"

In an instant our lips connected The heat running fronited all of htened I tasted the peppermint flavors left on his lips I smelt his shampoo--coconut I could hear his breaths I saw his passion, but what I loved the most was that I could feel hi to adue intoI knew,body holding ainst the ice cold wall turned an to nibble on ht Figure eights Oh, the things he could do with thatas he went exa could kill ayour s rapped around a Cooper Davidson Cooper lowered les in his shirt Placing a finger across his lips to silence hier

"Get in the shower," I instructed He obeyed, and I looked at myself in the mirror to fix myself up, buttoned my jeans, and opened the door to the bathroo there

"Are you okay?" she repeated

"Yeah, Moel on the plane," I lied I hadn’t eaten a bagel, but I knew the idea that I was eating would make her calm down

"Yeah, well, dinner’s ready Did you see where Cooper went?"

"Probably to one of the other rew up quite a bit You remember him when he used to come visit here as a kid? You tere close"

I rolled o eat" I bet Cooper was s at the compliment my mom had paid him Mom’s hand landed on my forehead as she looked at ?"

"Your cheeks are as red as a toht?"

If only she knew

Chapter Twenty-Four

AS I ENTERED the dining hall, the first thing I noticed was Andrea seated next to Ladasha, whispering soaveinformed to act as if we’d never rinned and patted the seat next to her My cousin was the sairl she e were children There are some people who are born to be cheerleaders They have a joy that can so, but Michelle was so damn small and adorable it was hard not to love her

"Thanks" I took my chair at the overstocked table It was filled with food, but nothing on the table would fill my appetite--only Andrea could at this point

"Okay, really quick Let me introduce you all to my one and only favorite cousin, Cooper Davidson I know you probably reer, but since then he went to becorapher who I auilt took over me as I realized I’d walked away from the family that took me in each summer when I was a child because I’d become famous I’d turned my back on the people who took care of me because I’d ift every year, but it was nothing personal I guess I forgot how nice it was to be around people who loved you without any judguess I could understand that with Andrea

"It’s nice to meet you, Cooper I’ her as if it were our first ti paths

Andrea’s rown up to be I thanked her and infore of her Her cheeks reddened up and she nodded "Well, she was, until she got this horrid haircut Really, Anders Tomorrow I’ll take you into town and we’ll have Ms Sally help you out"

"Moument with Betty would normally be pointless, because the wo-ass personality with opinions she wasn’t afraid to speak

"It’s so nice to have everyone here Together" Michelle grinned as she patted ree," Betty chimed in "It’s a shame Derrick isn’t here…" Her head lowered andher as I saw Andrea’s hand being held by Ladasha’s

Betty wasn’t done She looked at me with tears in her eyes "Derrick was Anders fiancé He passed away earlier this year, and this is the first Christmas without--"

"Mom, do we really have to talk about this?" Andrea barked at herdoith Andrea was slowly rebuilding itself

"Andrea Mae, I a It’s different, that’s all" Betty truly appeared shocked by her daughter’s sharp tongue I felt sorry for the both of thes differently Betty spoke, and Andrea didn’t

"I’m so sorry" I made sure my eyes locked with Andrea’s--to let her know she wasn’t sitting at this table alone with her past She had both Ladasha and me there now "I’m so, so sorry"