Page 191 of Dangerous Encore

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She flipsmeoff.

I grab her hand, bring it to my mouth, suck on her middle finger. "I'd like to get back to celebrating you gettingthisgig."

"What about?" She nods to thestove.

"It's supposed to simmeranotherhour."

"What about… well, if we're not getting married in June or July… Do you actually want to get married inAugust?"

"Augustisgood."

"Yeah."

"What'swrong,baby?"

"You can tell me. If you don't want it. I… I'm not sure I can live with that, but I wanttoknow."

"It'snotthat."

"But it'ssomething."

"Nothing about you." I wish there was a way to convince herofthat.

How do you tell your fiancéeI'm not sure about marrying you?Not because of you. Because I'm a fucking mess. Because I'm terrified of becoming my parents. Because I'm terrified ofdestroyingyou.

But don't take itpersonally.

That's probably a goodstart.

Really.

I'm anadult.

I've been through eight million years oftherapy.

I should be able to talk to the womanIlove.

To have an honest conversation about myfeelings.

Piper is the only person I cantalkto.

Butthis…

I'llcrushher.

I can'tdothat.

I ask so muchofher.

I can't ask her to wait until I have my headtogethertoo.

I take her hand and pull her into the kitchen. "Let's finishpreppingthis."

"Okay." She moves to the fridge and pulls out ingredients onebyone.

Lime. Garlic. Ginger.Cilantro.

She assembles everything on a cutting board and starts choppingcilantro.

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