Page 29 of Nave

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“Okay. Thanks, Nave.”

“Gotta stop saying that,” I said from the doorway.

“Not possible.”

I shot her a smile before closing the door.

Then I slumped against the wall next to it, exhaling hard.

“She’s pretty,” Fallon said, making me jump.

“It’s not like that.”

“It never is. Until it is. Figure you need to talk to me about that?”

“Yeah. Eventually.”

“I’m gonna get some sleep. And I got martial arts with the kids tomorrow. But maybe tomorrow late afternoon, before dinner?”

“I can make that work.”

“Alright. Getting out of here. Can’t believe I’m saying this. But I’m way too old for this shit now.”

“Starting to feel the same way,” I agreed.

Except, of course, I hadn’t been feeling that way.

Not until tonight.

Not until she showed up.

Now, the last thing I wanted to do anymore was party.

I wanted to get Lolly safe.

I wanted to see her settle in, relax, thrive.

I wanted to watch her become the woman she was meant to be.

I wouldn’t pretend to understand why.

But the why didn’t really matter.

I dragged myself down to the basement, climbing up to one of the top bunk beds and falling back on the pillow.

And there she was again.

In my mind. In my clothes. Smelling like me.

Unbidden, my cock started to stir.

“Fuck,” I sighed.

Maybe I was wrong about what I’d said to Fallon.

Maybe itwaslike that.

CHAPTER NINE

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