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"I' out of here for a bit Need some space"

"Please don't do this," she says quietly She's shaking her head, looking at me with keen disappointment

"Don't push ht seeot your back on this"

I stare at her for awhen I learned about the article starting to rise within me

"You've gotacross the rooot my back?"

Si her shoulders with the sheet draped around her "I do"

Co to a stop just inches from her body, I sneer at her "And just how do you have h this?"

"By standing beside you By defending you By telling and showing the world that you're kind and generous and loving and--"

"I fuck you, Simone," I tell her in a low rumble of a voice My tone shocks her and her h at your silliness But I a So you'd essentially be lying on my behalf Is that how you'll support me?"

"You're more than that," she whispers, but she doesn't sound so sure now

"You know I'm not," I say softly, but with such confidence she's powerless to argue "And besides that, do you think people are going to accept what you're saying? I give a little intervieith the uy, but instead the hts to speculate that I'm a violent person I kno this shit plays out It's why it's easier to keep people out"

"Van," she says slowlycautiously "I get you're angry, andis to drive away those that care about you--"

"You're wrong," I tell her "I don't intend to drive Etta away at all"

I let the iet the hint that this little adventure I took into being a norht or flight, and I'

"Spell it out for me, Van," Simone finally says, and I note her voice sounds as empty as her eyes look For the first ti to pursue me with the relentless determination I've come to know her for

This relieves me

Right?

I soften e ahead hat needs to be said "I otten in this deep with you Should have never opened myself up like I did"

"Sounds like you're bla me for some reporter rote an article about you," she says softly, but the anger is unmistakable

"No, not blain with"

Technically, it's true that the only reason I went to that prison to see Arco was because that first tis she'd dredged up inside ofher, and the way she seemed determined to insinuate herself in my life

Well, it was imperative I have my confrontation with Arco I realize now that just that tiny bit of Siive me some type of hope It prompted me to deal with my past

It put nizedluck

Talk about the fact that may have never happened had I not met Simone

I don't say that with blaed ood

"Would you like me to leave?" Simone asks stiffly

I shake my head "No Keep the rooht Enjoy yourself Root your brothers on"

"But you're going towhat?" she asks as a method to pump me for my plans

"I have no clue what I' out of here for a bit"

"So, whatyou're going to go back to hiding in plain sight? Doesn't work that way You're a professional athlete You are now in the ht"

"Not for er," I tell her resolutely "Not after this season is over I'm done"

"What?" she gasps