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And am I still holding him right now?

Seriously?

Adriano stiffens when I yank my hand out of his hold and jump off the desk. I can feel him staring at me as I grab my gown off the floor and dress myself in a hurry. I start grabbing my things, and when I reach for a phone, I see several messages from Hope waiting for me.

I know it's hard to say no, but sex will only complicate things.

She's,like,totally right, but it's also,like, totally too late.

"Shayla—"

He reaches for me as soon as I turn around, but when he sees me flinch—

His handsome face turns expressionless.

I'm sorry.

But because we've known each other far too long, I know I've hurt him.

I'm so, so sorry.

But all I can think of right now is how my own parents both told me how they used to love each other so, so passionately—

"Let's please pretend this never happened."

—until they just didn't.

And then I'm walking away without looking back.



















Chapter Eight

ADRIANO

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SEVEN MISSED CALLS. Twelve text messages. Three days of radio silence.