sent, silence followe

through. "I do not know how to make a cake. If there is an

gh slipped f

how to bake, or was it simply becau

rist, which had already begun to fade

cooking had never been so

she had taught herself to prepa

r blisters formed from burns, sh

" Kristin

she no longer neede

.

ked downstairs and froze when s

se tightened

u doing here

important to handle, so I could not stay with you," Colton repli

echoed in Kr

Elyse was clearly w

at," she said. "I alread

seeming to press down on the space around

far too composed. That c

se all the time, sometimes

ze and speaking with

nse of unease slowly tightened his chest, making him fe

said. "You can de

d turn him down, the

ized her arm and ushered h

set for eight

till enough

ne place she wanted to see ag

he car eventually stopped at the m

face as he took in the familiar bui

elings to you." Kristine spoke as she

one was known as t

g beside it and making a wis

n to become Colton's girlfriend. In

followed wa

same direction as hers, and t

from behind the stone, clutched his collar, and declared with

ne of the most sought-a

n, there was never a lack o

y girl confess so bold

ining, he replied

ne's eyes at once, but sho

e to tease her any furt

e realized that he had som

had found Kristine's no

stant presence slowly becam

ill and did not seek him out, and he f

of emotion

looked at Kristine

ad she grown

e repeatedly insisted on flying to Eylin

Later, her resistance faded. Eventually, she

n struck his ch

's return was be

ristine interjected. She opened the car door and s

Colton got out a

me to a halt in front of a sma

Gridron, Colton had grown up under stric

d never been something h

him through cramped alleys and

very first place she e

obvious disgust when the chili dog was hande

snapping back to the present and placing

only take a moment,"

ther was a first for him, so he stare

by, Kristine could still recall

t bobbing slightly as he spoke. "We could g

re cold silences. How

tine's lips. "If Elyse had never e

ver allowed room for

n said with certainty as he held onto Kristine's

did he notice how

grip tighten instinctively. "Kristin

ithin Krist

ance left anymo

off when Colton's p

rom Elyse's excl

etly mocked herself for believing him even briefly,

ion, Colton ans

sician, Brent Walsh. "Colton, you need to come to the hospital immediately. E

turned rigid.

turned around a

parting figure, the same faint s

ons did n

had already decided to walk the entire food street

d been completely unawar

her as well, which was why he had i

r that she finally sa

to cast one final glance at the bustling crowd, then she turned

ing, Kristine had already

m Colton came through. "Are you still at

, she cut off every possible