p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="60a0d5f1d8d1462747a036d93ee774db"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Forget Me Not/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="33ca31f6369755edc1987f5b17cdd18b"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Chapter Thirteen/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8a7b9e6035b32c00a03519770243ebbc"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I've been wondering,/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a429cd9ac071c642e376affeec47b709"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"if it's foolish to make/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d4196dc1a726e2e38be194058fa1a3a8"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"new memories when you know/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0196055d2898746a67713810b0b91f39"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"you're going to loose them."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5354e0bbed700630cb902de87c1a8a0e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"-Erica Bauermeister/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a1a013e22a71caf894cbe74b0472bc35"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Aria/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3d3548f33d7fc03b37558b1e5b0f28dd"I awoke to the sweet smell of my favorite cologne. The soft grey from the clouds dimmed the lighting of the small room. I shifted slightly to feel two arms wrap tighter around me. I shimmied around and saw him. The face I thought I would never see again, I never expected to wake up next to him ever again. He chuckled, his perfect cheeks lifting in amusement. I stared in awe, I couldn't believe that we were here, right now. I missed him more than anyone could comprehend. His hair fell down onto his forehead. I swiped it out of the way and he chuckled again. I continued to admire him, the moment was perfect. Indescribable. The feeling of the void in my heart was gone, nonexistent. And any other synonym you could think of. I felt whole again. I almost appreciated Alison getting rid of Riley- almost. His blue eyes fluttered open and his neutral expression changed into a smile. He tucked my chocolate hair behind my head. His grip became tighter around my waist, but not too tight./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="44378794b9024b2802859a69360d19ca""Hello." I muttered. We smiled and blushed at each other./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b7771e1388b14576a4b69af5b47879cd""Hey." His voice was scratchy, groggy from sleeping. "How'd you sleep?" I stretched my arms over my head and laughed lightly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b42fbe4a44f88b6240f3a292e748c338""I was up for a while, but other than my late night, I slept the best I have in years." He blushed and pulled me on top of him. His hands were on my upper thighs. He pressed a soft kiss on my lips. Before anything could get out of control, a loud ring echoed through the small apartment. I rolled off of him and he leaned over to the nightstand, checkin the caller I.D. His expression changed, his face fell and hit ignore. I bit my lip and looked away from him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="72291777e539a1ac94317fd6e13e99d1""It was Alison. Wasn't it?" He sighed, nodding./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="18986068bd945ed38d18aaf342d6138e""She's probably wondering where I am.." I nodded and tried my best to not to start crying all over again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="866767d540b7c22e99bb897ce729b4f2""Well," I cleared my throat. "I guess I'll see you around." I tried to gather up the sheet and wrap it around me. He pulled me back before I could get up and grab my clothes, he pulled me back by my waist, pulling me into him. I looked him in the eyes, the love that was once there was back, he didn't look at me like the girl who belittled his wife in their home so many weeks ago. I wasn't quite sure what we were yet, but he made it slightly clear of what he wanted. I had my doubts about him, though. He wasn't as loyal to Alison as he was our first lunch, but he still had boundaries that I wasn't sure he would cross. This was one of them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ea7e1c94f1f3f87b40b8fc85b695ce18""You don't have to do that at the mention of her name, okay?" I shrugged./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2f1f53e07cbcdc20d8fee806b617e166""Yes, Ezra. I do." I wasn't going to play pretend, this was the most real anything could get without Alison finding out. I wouldn't act like he didn't marry one of my old best friends. I wasn't one of those people who lied to themselves anymore...I wanted him more than anything...but I couldn't have him without destroying everything he already had. He cupped my cheeks with his hands and pressed a kiss to my forehead. The simple gesture felt so intimate./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6bff46119f89beebe0cbde32a8677023""You're the one I want, Aria. I can't hurt you again. Hurting you is like hurting myself. I can't do that to either of us." He rubbed my back, it felt nice to have the old Ezra back, just for a moment./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1df0ea606536bd7406aee661f042365f""You aren't supposed to cheat on your wife." It was an obvious statement that shouldn't be taken lightly. I promised myself I wouldn't be one to destroy a family; but were Alison and Ezra a true family? Was she an honest wife? I knew the answer was no, but it didn't matter. I was having doubts, I wasn't supposed to be doing this. He kissed me again, even softer this time before pulling away./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="271505392b6c252ea129cabe96eb9763""Your wife isn't supposed to lie, cheat and manipulate you, but I don't think that stopped her." I laughed lightly, still feeling the heavy rush of guilt in my chest. My smile fell, and suddenly I was left feeling dirty. "She's not going to be tied to me forever, Aria." My gaze softened. I leaned in and rested my forehead against his muscular shoulder. Everything came and went, feeling washed away like stains on a tee shirt. An idea popped into my head. I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled. The sheet fell down to my back, but I didn't care./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0c703001b9e05f391b1d65dc73ce1e91""I brought a purse full of things from before you left.. Do you wanna look at them?" His face brightened and he nodded. I didn't care about Alison anymore, and neither did he. We had each other for the moment, and we didn't mind. It was our chance to be who we once were, even if he didn't remember perfectly. I grabbed my purse from the couch and set it on my lap. I gestured for Ezra to come sit next to me. He came over and sat down next to me. He pulled me into his lap and I unzipped the purse, seeing all of the old things I kept from years ago. I smiled at the warm memories of that time..my past life./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8521bd7e733c109e205f7761c70c5f56""This is from when I met-" I pulled out the dart from the bag and gave it to him, and as soon as he saw it, he interrupted me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9d4cab1428782c2849b25f03b99d9583"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Hardy pulled his arm back before throwing the dart at the board, nearly hitting the waitress giving a table their beers./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d16ce00246674256beac9725d17cbbcd"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""So, I bring her back to my place," Hardy was telling the story of hooking up with some random girl at Hollis. "And this dork, starts laughing!" Aria grinned and turned to him./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d6955fb4a660530cede2be4666e16941"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""You laugh in your sleep?" He blushed and nodded. "That's cute."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7dc7936cd0709acebe9a1e76f4a42de4""Hardy. From when you met Hardy." I smiled at him in awe. This was brilliant, I was suddenly ecstatic that I had brought my purse of memories with me. "Keep showing me our stuff." My heart leapt when he said 'our' and I reached back in pulling out one of his old shirts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bf98ceaeca15047591bb63442baadaf5""This is, um, from our..first time together." I ran my fingers against the blue flannel. It was my favorite shirt that he had, it lost his smell long ago but was a constant reminder that he once belonged to me. I studied him as his gaze became dazed, then he finally snapped back to the present and made eye contact with me, smirking./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a813eb2430ac583be354fdbfb47d698f""I remember that." I blushed and he kissed each cheek where the blood had rushed to before he kissed my lips again. I broke apart though, I wanted to show him everything. I wanted him to remember everything./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a2bbf0e683482abe3aaa94385898a3bb"I found a bracelet and necklace from when we recreated our first date. We made it our anniversary./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="59e3d980d5b9ea468642989208f99374"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Do you know what this weekend is?" I watched as a younger version of me sat next to a younger version of...Aria! A younger version of us both were sitting on the same couch that was in this same apartment. Her feet were rested my his lap, my lap, and there was only love for each other in their eyes./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="aafc26f1946c3d9a55eed485c788deb2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""How could I forget?" She stood and walked over to the fridge. "Labor Day is the anniversary of Alison's death."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7dad3765e0c9e79e7e2f42bd23807857"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Well that explains the missing poster in the Snooker's memory...that must've been Aria in the Snooker's memory too then, right? I interrupted my own train of thought./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="df525851d3ab0158e9c5937c95d0a008"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Or, I was about to start a teaching job, and you thought you might like to teach..." He followed her out to the kitchen and pointed at her accusingly, smirking at her. "Was that true or were you just hitting on me?"/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1bebb0d9ce63c22d1c8e33f421afa434"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Did you really play B26 or were you just hitting on me?" She countered, he chuckled./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8b7aee9ed8258478fb42001da96c3752"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Can we make this..our anniversary?" I watched as the younger version of myself moved closer to Aria's younger version. "Instead of Alison's."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e3a0631113bf8b1cc0f11b500d0e682d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They talked about the book I was reading from the Snooker's memory and finally, something happened./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ca20765ddc1f06fb0ac13cd82dc208f2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I'm just a hopeless romantic...I thought we could..recreate the date." He smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7525bd55f8942b509f429b0658ecc46a"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I wouldn't exactly call it a date; we ended the night in the bathroom." She scoffed and younger Ezra chuckled./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f17d918ca7621bfad444158c9169b89c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I remember." He nodded and moved his arms to pick up Aria. "I think it went something like...this?" He lifted her onto the kitchen counter./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="124ba21569264a1dc24334c48896f945"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Then I did something like this." She wrapped her legs around his waste and they looked into each other's eyes just for a millisecond before they were kissing./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9b5f9aaf394376ccfeb3d300d2ae615b"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"At the end, he kissed her nose and they continued kissing./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="342a8470bec2616d8e2ea959e71d7c5a"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Aria/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1ccdd0dc98120d2d8cbc9f309e6a6743""That was a good day," Ezra said softy, I was astonished that he actually remembered that one./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bf48f205ed9e2f4cfa93627cb6ac9c10""It was." I agreed just as quietly. It was silent for a heartbeat, but I continued looking through my purse. I tugged out a spoon from our first coffee date, among other things. I felt something crumpling and found a neatly folded piece of paper on top of the purple dress that I wore when met Ezra./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7ab2efb8f934392797835e52c9455f7b""What is this?" I unfolded it, and annoying tears dropped down my face. "Aria?" He read it over my shoulder and smiled instantly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fc7dcd73253fc0136c408eba217551b2""em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What're you doing?" Her voice sung as she opened the apartment door. He blushed and shuffled around some papers before hiding what he was looking at./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d52714c89af0e2cb3b1e15c82b6cbbac"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""N-Nothing." He gave her a boyish grin and got up. His face a deep shade of red. "What're you doing here so early?" She narrowed her eyebrows./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e9e8ddaf46b70b21fc49ee6d86d4129c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I'll tell you once you tell me what you're hiding." He scratched his head./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ac345336c5eccd006229da443ae07b90"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Ar. It doesn't matter." She scoffed./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="395d26a715dbb1650c4c39a3129c3168"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Yes, it does. Show me." She was getting mad. What was such a big secret that he couldn't share with her./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7c77af4d2ac825cf8897f9dbc28e1774"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Aria. It's nothing." Frustrated, she shuffled through his stack of essays, her eyes falling on the poem, B-26./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="441a2d8c560d4b1bd8494b585a111569"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Ezra.." She smiled. "Why are you so embarrassed about this poem?" He scratched his head and turned an even brighter color of red./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fe8d5d518436e8ef8a0123f494d3c649"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I wasn't embarrassed, I just like to read it. It reminds me of you. And how you're all mine." She pressed a kiss to his lips and pushed him on the couch and sat on top of him, the remote in her left hand with the poem./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="94d7270f62c94954e0854e9338157c7b"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""It's a number, It's a song, it's a girl.." She held the remote to her mouth, like a microphone. She put it up to his lips./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4db93ffeec07d818c06bf810e230ebbe"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Smooth. Pearl Joy packed. Gold Fafafel, as though ice." They laughed at eachother. He caressed her cheek. "I love you." He whispered. She closed her eyes./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="efbe4fbbf11e8a8bbac47ea825b6d972"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I love you, too. So much."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a72e36a9d57c3348343b0c7ddad04ca0"We sat in absolute silence, I couldn't stand him not talking. It made me feel like I did something to make him stop. I loved his voice. He pressed his hands to his eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5887b4f958fd38a6e12405c07954b0cc""Oh my.." He rubbed his temples. He looked like he had had an epiphany. "I remember us. I remember you. I remember our first time, your parents, I remember the way your face looked when we exchanged 'I Love You's' for the first time." My face brightened./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="15b6378c88fcd2ca597d4873a87f339f""You really do?" He nodded and held my hands, running his thumbs over my knuckles. I felt my self crying all over again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="903d8782f5ccd70bf8d4b45343f9be18""What? What's wrong?" I shook my head, trying to get him to stop worrying./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2d29eee3918f7938c8ea797b1b45b5f6""It's nothing. I just never expected you to say that again." He smiled, wiping my tears away. I blushed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="080fef9eb5dc5be05fd79a478bedb467""I'm sorry." I wrapped my arm around his neck and put my finger to his lips./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8be12b0eb22c0360fa455688457d8738""No more apologies." He laughed deviously, pulling me closer to him. Keeping in mind that we were still half nude. As he started kissing me, he spotted something else in my bag./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fb90cad9f8a66e76304b4dc184aa0f2f""What's that?" He asked between a kiss. I pulled back and saw what he was looking at. My keychain. My old keychain. The last thing of mine that he touched before leaving Rosewood./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="96752d24b8f6c963ed91fc5261d13a43""Just my old keychain, nothing important." I lied quickly, kissing him hard again to distract him. I didn't want him to remember why he left. Not yet, anyways. He let it go, losing himself in our kissing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0d8d7637dede0448d68badfb8d3badff"A harsh knock rumbled throughout the apartment, not paying any attention, we continued out very sinful make-out. We heard the doorknob jiggle, and suddenly Hardy and Spencer burst through, causing all four of us to scream and me and Ezra to fall off of the couch and onto the floor. Spencer smirked and eyed him, I scowled at her and pulled on a shirt that went down to my knees. By the time I looked up, much to my dismay, Ezra was dressed in pajama pants and UC Berkley t-shirt. I frowned for a moment, but my expression turned neutral. Hardy was practically on the floor but in laughter rather than annoyance./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c17f71a9757f35313b0502d295ad1a18""It was about time you two laid each other!" Ezra rolled his eyes and Spencer gave me the "Tell-Me-Everything-Or-Suffer" look. I bit my lip and nodded./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1d33782e7d8123621d5ff499e916c818""What are you two doing here anyways?" I questioned, Spencer shrugged./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9d3493a49c040a46549f0974fbd3eff9""We were going to take Ezra, here, out to breakfast, and show him around town, but I see he was slightly busy to do much of anything besides..." We rolled our eyes as Hardy imitated squeaking bed springs and bad French kissing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4db5364fa38ecf4d193fd1b7232d6750""You're almost as bad as an eleven year old, I swear, Hardy." Spencer shook her head and then looked at me. "You guys up for breakfast?" I looked at Ezra, he nodded./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c7f3c949fdceb563a5cf18566eb32baa""Lets go."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="60b582cdc2771aac54f3028e0f95a39b"Everything felt like it was coming together for me, except the small threat of Alison hanging in the background./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b6d13d776b9412571051655024afa4d1"For some reason, I couldn't get that out of my mind./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9c0f0b59a4cb6d6c59f6002bf3892a28"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Alison/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6bc2d06e75869dcb44c71a90a23c6f8d"So many voicemails./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ac905c721022d0c61672b9c4c99bc733"It felt like I had left 1,000 voicemails on Ezra's cellphone. He hasn't picked up once, and Marley was starting to freak out. She wouldn't stop crying, she was bawling her eyes out because her Daddy didn't give her a good morning kiss./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9014996a8db85febd8c7a505e8d491aa"I wiped the sweat off my brow, I was running on the treadmill. The garage door was ajar and I could see Marley watching Disney Channel. I clicked it off and took a swig of water, kicking my shoes off in the doorway. My phone was buzzing on the counter. I ran over without even checking for a number or caller I.D./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c8d4cda48fc557fa028aab4a40ae9ce1""Is it Daddy?" Marley chimed. I hit answer with my pointer finger in the air./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e0b14166264c31a7aa833b62f259702c""Alison?" My father's voice came through, instead of the deep one I loved from Ezra Fitz./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dd5ad0520cf0ac41f30ce6116f447e46""Dad, hey." My heart thumped against my rib cage, my father never called me, unless he wanted something. "What can I do for you?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1f21d16ee95e608b6694a1db5d5fecd8""I was wondering if you wanted to come down to Rosewood for Christmas? I haven't seen my granddaughter in since her second birthday. Please." I sighed, Christmas was in a matter of a week. Ezra wasn't even answering my phone calls. He wasn't even home. If Ezra was to be anywhere, that wasn't Los Angeles, it would be Rosewood./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="24827f6160911c1c7286b1b3bb7174ef""I'll be there, tomorrow or the next. Not sure. I'll call you." Hanging up, I looked at my precious ball of innocence on the couch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5fe18619f32860f9c8e078fe98bf5f92""Pack your bags, baby girl. We're going on vacation to see Grandpa."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="33ca31f6369755edc1987f5b17cdd18b"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Chapter Thirteen/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8a7b9e6035b32c00a03519770243ebbc"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I've been wondering,/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a429cd9ac071c642e376affeec47b709"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"if it's foolish to make/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d4196dc1a726e2e38be194058fa1a3a8"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"new memories when you know/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0196055d2898746a67713810b0b91f39"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"you're going to loose them."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5354e0bbed700630cb902de87c1a8a0e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"-Erica Bauermeister/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a1a013e22a71caf894cbe74b0472bc35"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Aria/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3d3548f33d7fc03b37558b1e5b0f28dd"I awoke to the sweet smell of my favorite cologne. The soft grey from the clouds dimmed the lighting of the small room. I shifted slightly to feel two arms wrap tighter around me. I shimmied around and saw him. The face I thought I would never see again, I never expected to wake up next to him ever again. He chuckled, his perfect cheeks lifting in amusement. I stared in awe, I couldn't believe that we were here, right now. I missed him more than anyone could comprehend. His hair fell down onto his forehead. I swiped it out of the way and he chuckled again. I continued to admire him, the moment was perfect. Indescribable. The feeling of the void in my heart was gone, nonexistent. And any other synonym you could think of. I felt whole again. I almost appreciated Alison getting rid of Riley- almost. His blue eyes fluttered open and his neutral expression changed into a smile. He tucked my chocolate hair behind my head. His grip became tighter around my waist, but not too tight./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="44378794b9024b2802859a69360d19ca""Hello." I muttered. We smiled and blushed at each other./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b7771e1388b14576a4b69af5b47879cd""Hey." His voice was scratchy, groggy from sleeping. "How'd you sleep?" I stretched my arms over my head and laughed lightly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b42fbe4a44f88b6240f3a292e748c338""I was up for a while, but other than my late night, I slept the best I have in years." He blushed and pulled me on top of him. His hands were on my upper thighs. He pressed a soft kiss on my lips. Before anything could get out of control, a loud ring echoed through the small apartment. I rolled off of him and he leaned over to the nightstand, checkin the caller I.D. His expression changed, his face fell and hit ignore. I bit my lip and looked away from him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="72291777e539a1ac94317fd6e13e99d1""It was Alison. Wasn't it?" He sighed, nodding./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="18986068bd945ed38d18aaf342d6138e""She's probably wondering where I am.." I nodded and tried my best to not to start crying all over again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="866767d540b7c22e99bb897ce729b4f2""Well," I cleared my throat. "I guess I'll see you around." I tried to gather up the sheet and wrap it around me. He pulled me back before I could get up and grab my clothes, he pulled me back by my waist, pulling me into him. I looked him in the eyes, the love that was once there was back, he didn't look at me like the girl who belittled his wife in their home so many weeks ago. I wasn't quite sure what we were yet, but he made it slightly clear of what he wanted. I had my doubts about him, though. He wasn't as loyal to Alison as he was our first lunch, but he still had boundaries that I wasn't sure he would cross. This was one of them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ea7e1c94f1f3f87b40b8fc85b695ce18""You don't have to do that at the mention of her name, okay?" I shrugged./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2f1f53e07cbcdc20d8fee806b617e166""Yes, Ezra. I do." I wasn't going to play pretend, this was the most real anything could get without Alison finding out. I wouldn't act like he didn't marry one of my old best friends. I wasn't one of those people who lied to themselves anymore...I wanted him more than anything...but I couldn't have him without destroying everything he already had. He cupped my cheeks with his hands and pressed a kiss to my forehead. The simple gesture felt so intimate./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6bff46119f89beebe0cbde32a8677023""You're the one I want, Aria. I can't hurt you again. Hurting you is like hurting myself. I can't do that to either of us." He rubbed my back, it felt nice to have the old Ezra back, just for a moment./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1df0ea606536bd7406aee661f042365f""You aren't supposed to cheat on your wife." It was an obvious statement that shouldn't be taken lightly. I promised myself I wouldn't be one to destroy a family; but were Alison and Ezra a true family? Was she an honest wife? I knew the answer was no, but it didn't matter. I was having doubts, I wasn't supposed to be doing this. He kissed me again, even softer this time before pulling away./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="271505392b6c252ea129cabe96eb9763""Your wife isn't supposed to lie, cheat and manipulate you, but I don't think that stopped her." I laughed lightly, still feeling the heavy rush of guilt in my chest. My smile fell, and suddenly I was left feeling dirty. "She's not going to be tied to me forever, Aria." My gaze softened. I leaned in and rested my forehead against his muscular shoulder. Everything came and went, feeling washed away like stains on a tee shirt. An idea popped into my head. I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled. The sheet fell down to my back, but I didn't care./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0c703001b9e05f391b1d65dc73ce1e91""I brought a purse full of things from before you left.. Do you wanna look at them?" His face brightened and he nodded. I didn't care about Alison anymore, and neither did he. We had each other for the moment, and we didn't mind. It was our chance to be who we once were, even if he didn't remember perfectly. I grabbed my purse from the couch and set it on my lap. I gestured for Ezra to come sit next to me. He came over and sat down next to me. He pulled me into his lap and I unzipped the purse, seeing all of the old things I kept from years ago. I smiled at the warm memories of that time..my past life./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8521bd7e733c109e205f7761c70c5f56""This is from when I met-" I pulled out the dart from the bag and gave it to him, and as soon as he saw it, he interrupted me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9d4cab1428782c2849b25f03b99d9583"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Hardy pulled his arm back before throwing the dart at the board, nearly hitting the waitress giving a table their beers./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d16ce00246674256beac9725d17cbbcd"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""So, I bring her back to my place," Hardy was telling the story of hooking up with some random girl at Hollis. "And this dork, starts laughing!" Aria grinned and turned to him./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d6955fb4a660530cede2be4666e16941"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""You laugh in your sleep?" He blushed and nodded. "That's cute."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7dc7936cd0709acebe9a1e76f4a42de4""Hardy. From when you met Hardy." I smiled at him in awe. This was brilliant, I was suddenly ecstatic that I had brought my purse of memories with me. "Keep showing me our stuff." My heart leapt when he said 'our' and I reached back in pulling out one of his old shirts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bf98ceaeca15047591bb63442baadaf5""This is, um, from our..first time together." I ran my fingers against the blue flannel. It was my favorite shirt that he had, it lost his smell long ago but was a constant reminder that he once belonged to me. I studied him as his gaze became dazed, then he finally snapped back to the present and made eye contact with me, smirking./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a813eb2430ac583be354fdbfb47d698f""I remember that." I blushed and he kissed each cheek where the blood had rushed to before he kissed my lips again. I broke apart though, I wanted to show him everything. I wanted him to remember everything./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a2bbf0e683482abe3aaa94385898a3bb"I found a bracelet and necklace from when we recreated our first date. We made it our anniversary./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="59e3d980d5b9ea468642989208f99374"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Do you know what this weekend is?" I watched as a younger version of me sat next to a younger version of...Aria! A younger version of us both were sitting on the same couch that was in this same apartment. Her feet were rested my his lap, my lap, and there was only love for each other in their eyes./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="aafc26f1946c3d9a55eed485c788deb2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""How could I forget?" She stood and walked over to the fridge. "Labor Day is the anniversary of Alison's death."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7dad3765e0c9e79e7e2f42bd23807857"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Well that explains the missing poster in the Snooker's memory...that must've been Aria in the Snooker's memory too then, right? I interrupted my own train of thought./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="df525851d3ab0158e9c5937c95d0a008"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Or, I was about to start a teaching job, and you thought you might like to teach..." He followed her out to the kitchen and pointed at her accusingly, smirking at her. "Was that true or were you just hitting on me?"/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1bebb0d9ce63c22d1c8e33f421afa434"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Did you really play B26 or were you just hitting on me?" She countered, he chuckled./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8b7aee9ed8258478fb42001da96c3752"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Can we make this..our anniversary?" I watched as the younger version of myself moved closer to Aria's younger version. "Instead of Alison's."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e3a0631113bf8b1cc0f11b500d0e682d"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They talked about the book I was reading from the Snooker's memory and finally, something happened./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ca20765ddc1f06fb0ac13cd82dc208f2"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I'm just a hopeless romantic...I thought we could..recreate the date." He smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7525bd55f8942b509f429b0658ecc46a"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I wouldn't exactly call it a date; we ended the night in the bathroom." She scoffed and younger Ezra chuckled./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f17d918ca7621bfad444158c9169b89c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I remember." He nodded and moved his arms to pick up Aria. "I think it went something like...this?" He lifted her onto the kitchen counter./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="124ba21569264a1dc24334c48896f945"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Then I did something like this." She wrapped her legs around his waste and they looked into each other's eyes just for a millisecond before they were kissing./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9b5f9aaf394376ccfeb3d300d2ae615b"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"At the end, he kissed her nose and they continued kissing./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="342a8470bec2616d8e2ea959e71d7c5a"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Aria/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1ccdd0dc98120d2d8cbc9f309e6a6743""That was a good day," Ezra said softy, I was astonished that he actually remembered that one./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bf48f205ed9e2f4cfa93627cb6ac9c10""It was." I agreed just as quietly. It was silent for a heartbeat, but I continued looking through my purse. I tugged out a spoon from our first coffee date, among other things. I felt something crumpling and found a neatly folded piece of paper on top of the purple dress that I wore when met Ezra./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7ab2efb8f934392797835e52c9455f7b""What is this?" I unfolded it, and annoying tears dropped down my face. "Aria?" He read it over my shoulder and smiled instantly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fc7dcd73253fc0136c408eba217551b2""em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What're you doing?" Her voice sung as she opened the apartment door. He blushed and shuffled around some papers before hiding what he was looking at./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d52714c89af0e2cb3b1e15c82b6cbbac"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""N-Nothing." He gave her a boyish grin and got up. His face a deep shade of red. "What're you doing here so early?" She narrowed her eyebrows./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e9e8ddaf46b70b21fc49ee6d86d4129c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I'll tell you once you tell me what you're hiding." He scratched his head./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ac345336c5eccd006229da443ae07b90"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Ar. It doesn't matter." She scoffed./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="395d26a715dbb1650c4c39a3129c3168"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Yes, it does. Show me." She was getting mad. What was such a big secret that he couldn't share with her./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7c77af4d2ac825cf8897f9dbc28e1774"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Aria. It's nothing." Frustrated, she shuffled through his stack of essays, her eyes falling on the poem, B-26./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="441a2d8c560d4b1bd8494b585a111569"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Ezra.." She smiled. "Why are you so embarrassed about this poem?" He scratched his head and turned an even brighter color of red./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fe8d5d518436e8ef8a0123f494d3c649"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I wasn't embarrassed, I just like to read it. It reminds me of you. And how you're all mine." She pressed a kiss to his lips and pushed him on the couch and sat on top of him, the remote in her left hand with the poem./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="94d7270f62c94954e0854e9338157c7b"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""It's a number, It's a song, it's a girl.." She held the remote to her mouth, like a microphone. She put it up to his lips./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4db93ffeec07d818c06bf810e230ebbe"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Smooth. Pearl Joy packed. Gold Fafafel, as though ice." They laughed at eachother. He caressed her cheek. "I love you." He whispered. She closed her eyes./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="efbe4fbbf11e8a8bbac47ea825b6d972"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I love you, too. So much."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a72e36a9d57c3348343b0c7ddad04ca0"We sat in absolute silence, I couldn't stand him not talking. It made me feel like I did something to make him stop. I loved his voice. He pressed his hands to his eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5887b4f958fd38a6e12405c07954b0cc""Oh my.." He rubbed his temples. He looked like he had had an epiphany. "I remember us. I remember you. I remember our first time, your parents, I remember the way your face looked when we exchanged 'I Love You's' for the first time." My face brightened./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="15b6378c88fcd2ca597d4873a87f339f""You really do?" He nodded and held my hands, running his thumbs over my knuckles. I felt my self crying all over again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="903d8782f5ccd70bf8d4b45343f9be18""What? What's wrong?" I shook my head, trying to get him to stop worrying./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2d29eee3918f7938c8ea797b1b45b5f6""It's nothing. I just never expected you to say that again." He smiled, wiping my tears away. I blushed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="080fef9eb5dc5be05fd79a478bedb467""I'm sorry." I wrapped my arm around his neck and put my finger to his lips./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8be12b0eb22c0360fa455688457d8738""No more apologies." He laughed deviously, pulling me closer to him. Keeping in mind that we were still half nude. As he started kissing me, he spotted something else in my bag./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fb90cad9f8a66e76304b4dc184aa0f2f""What's that?" He asked between a kiss. I pulled back and saw what he was looking at. My keychain. My old keychain. The last thing of mine that he touched before leaving Rosewood./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="96752d24b8f6c963ed91fc5261d13a43""Just my old keychain, nothing important." I lied quickly, kissing him hard again to distract him. I didn't want him to remember why he left. Not yet, anyways. He let it go, losing himself in our kissing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0d8d7637dede0448d68badfb8d3badff"A harsh knock rumbled throughout the apartment, not paying any attention, we continued out very sinful make-out. We heard the doorknob jiggle, and suddenly Hardy and Spencer burst through, causing all four of us to scream and me and Ezra to fall off of the couch and onto the floor. Spencer smirked and eyed him, I scowled at her and pulled on a shirt that went down to my knees. By the time I looked up, much to my dismay, Ezra was dressed in pajama pants and UC Berkley t-shirt. I frowned for a moment, but my expression turned neutral. Hardy was practically on the floor but in laughter rather than annoyance./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c17f71a9757f35313b0502d295ad1a18""It was about time you two laid each other!" Ezra rolled his eyes and Spencer gave me the "Tell-Me-Everything-Or-Suffer" look. I bit my lip and nodded./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1d33782e7d8123621d5ff499e916c818""What are you two doing here anyways?" I questioned, Spencer shrugged./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9d3493a49c040a46549f0974fbd3eff9""We were going to take Ezra, here, out to breakfast, and show him around town, but I see he was slightly busy to do much of anything besides..." We rolled our eyes as Hardy imitated squeaking bed springs and bad French kissing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4db5364fa38ecf4d193fd1b7232d6750""You're almost as bad as an eleven year old, I swear, Hardy." Spencer shook her head and then looked at me. "You guys up for breakfast?" I looked at Ezra, he nodded./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c7f3c949fdceb563a5cf18566eb32baa""Lets go."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="60b582cdc2771aac54f3028e0f95a39b"Everything felt like it was coming together for me, except the small threat of Alison hanging in the background./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b6d13d776b9412571051655024afa4d1"For some reason, I couldn't get that out of my mind./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9c0f0b59a4cb6d6c59f6002bf3892a28"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Alison/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6bc2d06e75869dcb44c71a90a23c6f8d"So many voicemails./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ac905c721022d0c61672b9c4c99bc733"It felt like I had left 1,000 voicemails on Ezra's cellphone. He hasn't picked up once, and Marley was starting to freak out. She wouldn't stop crying, she was bawling her eyes out because her Daddy didn't give her a good morning kiss./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9014996a8db85febd8c7a505e8d491aa"I wiped the sweat off my brow, I was running on the treadmill. The garage door was ajar and I could see Marley watching Disney Channel. I clicked it off and took a swig of water, kicking my shoes off in the doorway. My phone was buzzing on the counter. I ran over without even checking for a number or caller I.D./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c8d4cda48fc557fa028aab4a40ae9ce1""Is it Daddy?" Marley chimed. I hit answer with my pointer finger in the air./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e0b14166264c31a7aa833b62f259702c""Alison?" My father's voice came through, instead of the deep one I loved from Ezra Fitz./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dd5ad0520cf0ac41f30ce6116f447e46""Dad, hey." My heart thumped against my rib cage, my father never called me, unless he wanted something. "What can I do for you?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1f21d16ee95e608b6694a1db5d5fecd8""I was wondering if you wanted to come down to Rosewood for Christmas? I haven't seen my granddaughter in since her second birthday. Please." I sighed, Christmas was in a matter of a week. Ezra wasn't even answering my phone calls. He wasn't even home. If Ezra was to be anywhere, that wasn't Los Angeles, it would be Rosewood./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="24827f6160911c1c7286b1b3bb7174ef""I'll be there, tomorrow or the next. Not sure. I'll call you." Hanging up, I looked at my precious ball of innocence on the couch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5fe18619f32860f9c8e078fe98bf5f92""Pack your bags, baby girl. We're going on vacation to see Grandpa."/p