✦ CHAPTER — OUT OF CONTROL ✦
Keifer's POV
I shouldn't have done that.
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Not in public.
Not in front of him.
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But the moment I saw her smile at someone else—
I stopped thinking.
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And that's the problem.
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I don't lose control.
I don't let things get to me like that.
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But with her—
it keeps happening.
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I ran a hand through my hair roughly.
Walking away from campus.
Not even checking if she was following.
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Because if I looked at her again—
I might do something worse.
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"You're mine to look at like that."
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The words I said earlier replayed in my head.
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Too much.
Too far.
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But I meant it.
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That's what bothered me.
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I stopped walking.
Jaw tightening.
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This isn't how I work.
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I don't get attached.
I don't get affected.
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People don't become necessary to me.
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And yet—
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I exhaled sharply.
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She does.
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That realization sat heavy in my chest.
Uncomfortable.
Unfamiliar.
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Because needing someone—
means they can hurt you.
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And I learned that the hard way.
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A memory flashed.
Quick.
Unwanted.
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Blood.
A voice.
Gone.
Because of me.
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My hand clenched into a fist.
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"…not again."
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I muttered it under my breath.
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I won't let that happen again.
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And that's exactly why I snapped at her that night.
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Because she was getting too close.
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Closer than anyone ever has.
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She looks at me like I'm something worth caring about.
Like I matter.
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And I don't know how to hold that without breaking it.
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So I pushed her away.
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"Don't care like that."
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I said it like it was nothing.
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But it wasn't.
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It was fear.
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Fear that if she keeps caring—
she'll get hurt.
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Or worse—
she'll become something I can't afford to lose.
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My chest tightened slightly.
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And now—
after today—
after seeing her with someone else—
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That fear changed.
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Because now it's not just about losing her to danger.
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It's about losing her—
period.
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To someone else.
To distance.
To the version of herself that listens when I push her away.
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I let out a slow breath.
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"…I did that."
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I made her step back.
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I told her not to care.
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And now I hate it.
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Because she listened.
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My head tilted back slightly.
Eyes closing for a second.
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I don't want her to stop.
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I don't want her to look at me differently.
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I don't want her smiling like that at someone else.
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My jaw tightened again.
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"…I don't share."
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The words came out low.
Quiet.
But true.
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Not her.
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Not the way she looks at me.
Not the way she cares.
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That belongs to me.
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And for the first time—
I wasn't trying to deny it.
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I stepped forward again.
Decision settling in my chest.
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Because one thing was clear now.
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I can't keep pushing her away—
and expect her to stay.
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And I'm not letting her go.
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Not when she's already this close.
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Not when she's already mine.
✦ CHAPTER — DON'T LISTEN TO ME ✦
Jayjay's POV
I didn't leave my room.
After everything—
the kiss, the way he looked at me, the way my heart wouldn't slow down—
I just sat there.
On the edge of the bed.
Trying to understand what I was feeling.
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A soft knock.
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My breath caught.
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"…Jay."
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Keifer.
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I didn't answer immediately.
Not because I didn't want to.
Because I didn't know how to.
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Another knock.
Softer this time.
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"Can I come in?"
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A pause.
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"…okay."
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The door opened slowly.
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He stepped in quietly.
Like he didn't want to disturb anything.
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His eyes found me instantly.
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I didn't look away.
Not this time.
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For a moment—
neither of us spoke.
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Then he walked closer.
Slow.
Careful.
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Stopping just in front of me.
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His hand lifted slightly.
Hesitating for a second—
before gently brushing a strand of my hair away from my face.
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My breath hitched.
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His fingers lingered.
Just a second longer than needed.
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Then—
he leaned down.
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And pressed a soft kiss against my hair.
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Not rushed.
Not intense.
Just… warm.
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"I'm sorry."
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My chest tightened instantly.
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"I shouldn't have said that."
His voice was low.
Quieter than usual.
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I swallowed.
"…you did."
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He nodded slightly.
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"I know."
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Silence.
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"I'm not used to it," he continued.
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"…to what?"
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His hand moved gently to the side of my neck.
Resting there.
Steady.
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"Someone caring like that."
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I didn't answer.
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Because I understood.
But it still hurt.
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"I don't know how to react without…" he paused slightly
"…messing it up."
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My eyes softened just a little.
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"You did."
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"I know."
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No denial.
No excuses.
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Just truth.
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He leaned a little closer.
His forehead resting lightly against mine.
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"…you're not allowed to listen to me when I say things like that."
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I blinked.
"…what?"
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"When I tell you not to care."
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His voice dropped softer.
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"Don't."
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Silence.
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"I didn't mean it."
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My chest tightened again.
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"But you said it."
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A pause.
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His hand shifted slightly.
Fingers curling gently against my skin.
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"…then don't listen."
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I let out a small breath.
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"You don't get to say things and then decide I shouldn't believe them."
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That hit.
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I saw it in his expression.
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His jaw tightened slightly.
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"…I know."
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Then quieter—
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"I'm trying."
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Silence filled the room again.
But it wasn't heavy like before.
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Just… fragile.
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He didn't move away.
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Neither did I.
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His thumb brushed lightly against my skin.
Small.
Careful.
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"Stay," he said softly.
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Not a command.
Not control.
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Just… asking.
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I looked at him for a moment longer.
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Then—
very slightly—
I nodded.
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And this time—
when he pulled me closer—
I didn't hold back as much.
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Not completely.
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But enough for him to feel it.
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And that was all he needed.
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✦ NEXT DAY ✦
Keifer's POV
"You've changed."
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I didn't look at him.
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Jare leaned against the wall.
Watching me like he already knew the answer.
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"I don't know what you're talking about."
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He scoffed lightly.
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"You don't have to pretend with me."
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Silence.
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I exhaled slowly.
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"…it's her."
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Jare smirked slightly.
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"I figured."
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I ran a hand through my hair.
Frustration building—not at him.
At myself.
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"I don't know how to do this."
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That made him pause.
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"…do what?"
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"This."
I gestured vaguely.
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"Care."
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The word felt unfamiliar.
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"Be close without…" I stopped
"…ruining it."
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Jare's expression shifted slightly.
Less teasing.
More serious.
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"…you're scared."
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I didn't answer.
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Because I didn't need to.
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He already knew.
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"What if I hurt her?" I said quietly.
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Silence.
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"What if I break her the way everything else ends up broken around me?"
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Jare watched me closely now.
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"…then stop acting like you don't care."
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My jaw tightened.
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"I'm trying."
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"No," he shook his head
"You're pushing and pulling at the same time."
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That hit.
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"You think you're protecting her," he continued
"But you're confusing her."
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Silence.
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"And if you keep doing that—"
He paused.
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"You're going to lose her."
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That made something in my chest tighten.
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"…I won't."
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Jare looked at me.
Straight.
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"You already are."
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Silence.
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Because I felt it too.
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The way she stepped back.
The way she held herself now.
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And for the first time—
I didn't have anything to argue with.
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"…then what do I do?" I asked quietly.
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Jare sighed.
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"Stop pushing her away when she gets close."
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A pause.
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"And start showing her that staying is safe."
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Silence.
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I looked away slightly.
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Because that sounded simple.
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But for me—
it wasn't.
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Still—
one thing was clear.
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I couldn't afford to lose her.
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Not like this.
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Not when she was already slipping through my hands.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi guys 😝🙃,
Soo I am officially back and ready to continue our story👀🫶🏻🎀
But I just realized , I'm soo dumb 😭💀😳. Right ? Like I added jayfer healing part ✨️🤍 and then all of a sudden I added their argument 😭🥀
Like guys , I wasn't rly thinking straight . Lets head to the point
So the main reason I added the argument was because I wanted to add her explaining Liam past 😭😭😭💔
I wanted to make it Emotional but I was soo dumb . It's like breaking our story now 😭🥀
So I rly apologise for my dumb mistake 😳💀, as an apology I wrote this chapter on his pockets
Anyway here is your chapter 🤍✨️🎀, I hope you like it
And don't forget to add your suggestions for the upcoming chapters 🤍😝
And who's ready for Keifer's jealousy 😏🤧?