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We should never have been in there in the first place, I thought It’s one But this part, I kept inside There were some parts of my story I could never share, even with my closest friends

I cleared uess it’s just feltwrong? To enjoy myself when Bernadette couldn’t So instead I’ve just been lace around “Not to mention everyone around me”

Ella nodded “I understand,” she said “Whenguilty whenever I felt happy But I finally realized that she would want that for me She would want me to enjoy life, even without her”

“You’re right,” I said “And I thinkit’s tiain” My eyeswith you, Ella”

15

Ella

I lickeddry as Grant advanced toward aze fixed on ht, Ella,” he said, and his voice seeh to the very core of me

“You have?” I squeaked, and flushed Grant smiled

“I have,” he said, his fingers tracing patterns on oosebuirl I’ve seen in a long ti love to you since I first laid eyes on you”

I gasped as the tips of his fingers dipped below the hem of my dress and quickly withdrew “We can take this as slowly as you need,” he said “I just need to do this” He leaned in, clai, sensuous kiss I closed my eyes and leaned in to him

When Grant pulled away, good humor danced in his eyes I drank him in: tall, a little scruffy, but in a way that worked for hi his ar the flex of his muscles beneath my touch “Tell me about yourself, Ella,” he said

As I chatted with Grant, telling him about my home, my music, my church, I understood what Saul had meant when he said Grant would be the perfectme feel like I was the only person in the room—in the world, even His eyes never strayed frohtfully as I spoke, even as his hands roaasps