Last Christmas (Private 0.60)

"Right."

"So we just make sure she doesn't see us together." He tilted his head toward her. Reached out to touch her

hand. "We were going to be apart this year, anyway. Now we have to be even more careful when we meet

up."

He was trying to reassure her, but it wasn't enough. They had planned to lie low for the rest of the year, but

they had also planned to

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be together next year, after Daniel was gone. Why wasn't Thomas worried about next year? Why didn't he

want to make sure that Mel never had the chance to turn them in? Ariana turned toward him, looked into his

eyes. They were blank; she couldn't read him.

"So that takes care of this year," she began. "But what about-"

She felt him flinch slightly, and she froze. It would have been imperceptible to anyone else. But not to her.

She already knew him well enough to know his every move. She knew him well enough to know that he

would never be with her as long as Mel was in the picture. He knew that Mel could hurt them, and he wanted

to protect Ariana. Protect her because he loved her. But protecting her meant pulling away. And she couldn't

let that happen.

Deep calm settled over her, soothing her burning nerves. She started toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Thomas jumped up after her.

"I have to get back to Billings," she said simply. "Noelle's going to start wondering where I am. Or worse,

Paige."

"Okay," he said. "See you later?"

"Sure."

"Wait." Thomas gripped her arm, pulling her back. "You okay?"

She opened the door and peered into the hallway. It was empty.

"I'm fine," she said reassuringly. And she was. But he wasn't. He looked so worried, so scared. So fragile.

And in that instant she knew she was the only one who could ever take care of him the way he needed. The

only one who could make sure he didn't break.

And after all, wasn't that what it was to be in love?

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PEACE