He knows. He knows I like him… A firm hand wrapped itself around my knuckles, another pressed against my chest to cushion me from the punches. Why did he kiss me? Why is he holding my hand? This can’t be real, it can’t. It’s impossible. “Aspen?” The voice was a distant echo my brain chose to ignore, my anxious thoughts consuming me. “Aspen.” It was a different voice. It shook me—made me shiver. Rafe was squeezing my hand, trying to get my attention. “Stop—please stop hitting yourself.” My hand froze a couple of inches from my chest. I looked down wide-eyed at the tightly wound fist cupped in
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