Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

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Suddenly someone from a nearby booth wanders our way, hovering rightnear Ren. I see Ren’s open expression shutter, his polite smile take over as heturns, shielding Ziggy behind his body.“Sorry to bug you…” the guy says.Why do people say sorry when they’re doing something and they’re going tokeep doing it? Either demonstrate genuine remorse and stop doing it, or just ownthat you’re being an invasive prick, bugging a professional hockey player for asignature at nine thirty on a weeknight, when he’s just out for a quiet bite to eat.“What’s up, man?” Ren says.“Just wondering if—”I lift my cane, arced over my head like a wand, and say, “Sectumsempra!”“Jesus!” The guy stumbles back, knocking into a chair and running back tohis booth. I give him a death glare, until he sinks out of sight.Ziggy slaps a hand over her mouth, making her voice come out muffled.“That was awesome.”Ren peers down at me. “Little aggressive of a curse, right out of the gate,don’t you think, Francesca?”Annie shakes her head. “You don’t know the half of it. When she and Timget drunk, she calls Imperio and he follows her orders. It’s like sick, twisted,Pottermore charades.”If she weren’t 300 weeks pregnant, I’d kick her under the table. “That’sprivate, Annabelle.”She waves me off. “Well, now that we lost the fan, why don’t you join us?”Annie says to Ren.Ziggy opens her mouth, but before she can answer, Ren squeezes hershoulder gently. “That’s okay. We wouldn’t want to encroach on your catch-up,”he says. “And I haven’t seen this one in a while. She’s overdue for a big brotherinquisition.”Ziggy rolls her eyes. It makes me smile. And it also makes my heart flip-flopthat Ren’s protecting time with his sister.“Hang in there,” I tell her. “As the baby of the family with a bossy oldersibling, you have my sympathy.”“Hey.” Ren shoves me gently, and I milk it, flopping over to the bench.“Shit, Frankie.” He wraps his arms around my shoulder, hoists me upright. “I’mso sorry, I’m—”His features change when he sees I’m trying not to laugh and realizes I’mfine. He narrows his eyes. “That’s a dirty move.”“I thought it was pretty funny,” Ziggy says drily.“Yes, well.” Ren straightens and gives me a half-hearted glare. “We’ll leave
you to it.” Turning to my friend, he smiles much wider. “Annie, good to seeyou.” Back to me with a skunk face. “See you at work tomorrow, Francesca.”I stick my tongue out at him. “Søren.”Ziggy sucks in a breath, glancing between us. “She calls you Søren? Holy—”“Come on.” Ren takes her by the elbow. “We’re leaving. Bye!”Annie grins, watching them walk to their booth. Ren drops into the benchfacing me and lands me with a piercing stare. Slowly a grin warms his face likehe can’t help it.“Oh, Frankie,” Annie says wistfully. “You are in trouble.”I sigh as I feel myself smiling back. “Don’t I know it.”
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ALWAYS ONLY YOUBergman Brothers (#2
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Cover Art byJENNIE ROSE DENTON OF L
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PLAYLIST NOTEAt the beginning of ea
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“You want nothing but patience; o
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FRANKIE
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accessibility itself.That makes me
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My cheeks heat. Good grief. Of cour
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burger and the world’s best stree
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“Yeah. I was very against them my
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FRANKIE
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room we’re in stops talking for a
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I started working for the team, I t
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Now, only those closest to me are t
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Playlist: “For the Time Being,”
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She makes a shooing motion at Ryder
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pinch myself that I get to see Fran
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“Wow. For your job relying entire
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“What?” She straightens and wip
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Playlist: “The Love Club,” Lord
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Each time, each flare, my left hip
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prohibitively expensive root beer g
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buttons. They’re different. I can
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FRANKIE
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through the drawers until he finds
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really means what he says when he e
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in my ‘Boy Who Lived’ panties,
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Playlist: “Neighborhood #2,” Ar
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mechanicals” scenes.“Moreaux.
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stand'st between her father's groun
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you tell me why everyone’s acting
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Playlist: “New Rush,” Gin Wigmo
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Snatching a towel from nearby, he d
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central to Tyler. Tyler fakes a sla
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and says, “Don’t worry, Frankie
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He’s like a kid right now. Wide-e
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FRANKIE
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The flight hasn’t been the smooth
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I glance away furiously as heat flo
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landlord’s number?”I nod. But I
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soothing the aches in my joints as
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Playlist: “Sisyphus,” Andrew Bi
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Frankie eases out of it, followed b
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Then the weirdest thing happens. He
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me when that’s what other people
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FRANKIE
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“Not since this morning. We did a
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Lo clears her throat loudly and rai
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He’s a ginger.”Lo cackles. “F
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“Ah. And you didn’t leave this
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“Will this impact your job?” he
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REN
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If anyone needs to be reminded that
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have a clear shot.“You’ll be gr
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you hate it.”“You were beardles
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But it’s all the answer I need.
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REN
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He said they’re still fixing the
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“It’s windy,” she says.“Ver
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her in a highly suggestive position
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against hers and feel her nails dig
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FRANKIE
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Dumping his armful on the counter,
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His brother leans a hip against the
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We’re naked, front to front. Ren
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so I let him pull me along.“Mind
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14
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Playlist: “Mama, You Been on My M
Page 136 and 137: She nudges me. “Quit deflecting.
Page 138 and 139: My banged-up shoulder twinges from
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Page 142 and 143: Playlist: “Everything I Am Is You
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Page 150 and 151: Playlist: “Lovely,” Billie Eili
Page 152 and 153: His gaze holds mine, like he’s tr
Page 154 and 155: looked at him. And what was there t
Page 156 and 157: Ren presses the buzzer for Lo’s u
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Page 160 and 161: Playlist: “Sirens,” Cher Lloyd
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Page 164 and 165: ready—if you’re ready—tell me
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Page 168 and 169: Playlist: “Saturday Sun,” Vance
Page 170 and 171: “It’s not that—”Frankie’s
Page 172 and 173: She lowers the menu. “Søren.”I
Page 174 and 175: “Have you ever felt like I treat
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Page 178 and 179: Playlist: “Crush,” Tessa Violet
Page 180 and 181: Physically. Emotionally. We’ll go
Page 182 and 183: “Hm.” She sniffs. “And here I
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Page 190 and 191: Playlist: “Work,” Charlotte Day
Page 192 and 193: Lifting my cane, I poke the butt in
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Page 200 and 201: Playlist: “Toothpaste Kisses,”
Page 202 and 203: “You’re staring at me,” she w
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Page 208 and 209: Playlist: “Somewhere Over the Rai
Page 210 and 211: He visibly relaxes. “Oh. Okay. Yo
Page 212 and 213: “One day I want to be able to go,
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Page 218 and 219: Playlist: “Close To You,” Rihan
Page 220 and 221: battery is recharged.“Oh, and we
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Page 228 and 229: Playlist: “And the Birds Sing,”
Page 230 and 231: open and then widen as she sees Ren
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taste from the pitcher. “And if y
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25
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Playlist: “Mushaboom,” FeistWIL
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of my imagination and it wouldn’t
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back lawn. “I told Viggo croquet
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REN
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Patting his arm, I give him a distr
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yank it loose, then attack the butt
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She smiles and presses up on tiptoe
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I’m so close already, I have to s
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FRANKIE
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to cup him, exploring velvet soft s
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Watching her, I’m distracted from
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“Not you, specifically, Zenzero,
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responsibilities and then down that
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28
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Playlist: “Let’s See What The N
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Suddenly, her face turns to a frown
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have fallen out of my wallet. I did
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ever had, Zenzero. Hands down.”My
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FRANKIE
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lost in thought. I tip my head and
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He nods. Blinks, eyes wet with unsh
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He whips his head toward me, pinnin
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served discussing this philosophy o
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the beach. I’m damn good at givin
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30
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Playlist: “The Night We Met,” L
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Aiden chucks his water at the groun
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and my heart takes off inside my ch
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31
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Playlist: “Like I’m Gonna Lose
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laughing as she strokes my beard an
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honest and confess the first thing
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ABOUT THE AUTHORChloe writes storie
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