The late morning light filtered through the uncovered front window, almost blinding Hanna as she searched for Steve's car. She took another sip of her lukewarm black tea. It was only their second day here and she was already sick of the stuff. If there was anything to look forward to today, it would be a fresh cup of coffee. Plus the fresh clothes, she thought optimistically as she looked down at her dirty, ripe blouse and pants.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMzrj8mgIs
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As much as Hanna was looking forward to what he was bringing, she couldn't shake that nagging feeling that Steve might have told the dealers about Ethan originally. Ethan trusted him, but that didn’t mean much to her, so she decided to stay vigilante. If Steve was a greedy backstabber, then she knew how to deal with him, as she'd handled those kind of people her whole life. Keep your enemies close, Hanna thought coldly, and, preferably, within stabbing range.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxA6g9UHra
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Hanna looked at her phone again, based on his last text, Steve should be arriving now. She checked the window for the umpteenth time but there was no sign of his car before she glanced back at Ethan, lying on the sofa, evidently still tired. Despite his closed eyes, she knew he was awake, the way his hands kept fidgeting was an obvious tell.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7HLt8PQ7r
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFelhgpppQ9
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZYW3wKjA8
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ97wuE9tl
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"He doesn't have to come in, I can meet him outside," Hanna suggested quickly. "You won't have to see him."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMcJVO8H2H
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtcbd4t9Kx
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4okeTGaa4
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2kNslrksD
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpke6Lxt82
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qVLsQqFVs
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhrsBYT2rw
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Ethan was very familiar with the Terran stereotypes about Charax heats. "No. That's not a symptom," he stated dryly. Maybe I'd feel more aggressive if every inch of me wasn't sore, he thought grumpily.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ytx2ygi7N
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Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a car outside. Hanna went to the front window to see Steve's silver car driving up in from of the building.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujvsbf03w0
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uXpKq60jO
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Ethan got up off the sofa, stretching his stiff muscles, preparing himself. His body only wanted to do two things right now. Pretending to act like a Terran was not one of those things, but he’d been doing that his whole life, a few minutes was nothing in comparison.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cKpLgPuTA
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Hanna opened the door for Steve, who had way too many grocery bags in his hands, as Ethan walked into the kitchen. "Let me take those," Hanna offered, taking the bags from him and carrying them over to the kitchen easily.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHQ1KCbyDD
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiTQe9jbqA
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VASVTEpDN
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Steve joined the two of them in the kitchen. "You're welcome, it's good to see you're both alive."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOpR5vvDNp
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjC238n2HPq
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy0jrylrgz
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"That's what it seemed like, looks like they knew what they were doing," Hanna answered vaguely, adding false uncertainty in an attempt to cover up her own knowledge. She’d avoided giving Steve too many details, out of concern that he might not accept her lies as easily as Ethan did.
"That's crazy. Hard to believe the rumours are true, that people really do hunt Charax for a living," Steve commented grimly, then he turned to Ethan. "But, hey, you got out alright. Looks like they messed with the wrong Charax this time."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn50fppoFxy
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXm8urQYRj
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWR7L8Ukvx
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrJIZtR0RD
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Hanna eyed him curiously. She'd seen every inch of him and knew he didn't have any bruises on the back of his shoulder. He’s probably just tired and irritable, she thought.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIoUTxmOjc
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfTqtiNzpB
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllWLiAHXq6
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0MV9g7K97
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Ethan nodded hesitantly, so Hanna went to join Steve. He used the opportunity to take a deep breath, trying to steady the slight tremor in his hand. He resolved to try to focus his complete attention on the task in front of him and try to forget about the returning heat symptoms.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJgdx52f19
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Steve and Hanna brought the rest of the bags in, and by the time they were done, Ethan had already unpacked half the groceries.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnEJOZDqya
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"What about the bag I asked you to pick up?" Hanna asked as she looked over the chaotic pile of bags spanning the kitchen and living room.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2SmsForfO
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9xjPouhJz
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQonvCQ6HA
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WfDL9DefR
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"I packed it weeks ago for a trip that ended up cancelled and I never got around to unpacking it. Good thing I procrastinated," Hanna lied smoothly as she opened it up, checking the contents. She'd always had an emergency bag packed but she'd never needed to use it before, nor had she ever expected to use it for something like this.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lCKgzxHiE
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBDE579ecz
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTKBTUPCq8
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Ethan was almost done with the bag in front of him, the last item was a bag of potatoes. As he went to put them away, he accidentally dropped them. The heavy bag hit the kitchen floor with a loud thud, drawing everyone's attention, and Steve went to pick it up.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx9XBIyeDT
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Ethan snatched the vegetables up before Steve could reach them. "I have it," he mumbled, sticking them in a cabinet. He noticed the tremor in his hand worsening.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx72QZU23y3
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Hanna shot a puzzled glance over at the two men in the kitchen. She couldn't put her finger on what was wrong with Ethan. She'd have guessed that he was frightened, except that he had no reason to be scared of Steve... unless he had the same gut feeling she did.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGdVddtwRo
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Ethan thought he was doing a better job of handling the tremors until he grabbed the jug of milk and it slipped out of his grasp onto the floor. "Damn," he swore at a low volume, reaching downwards towards the undamaged plastic container.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8hUHOfz3f
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eFPg0OEeQ
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDupYcxbF19
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnlV2gYrvL
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Ethan realized everyone was looking at him. "There are more bags to unpack," he stated awkwardly, trying to shift their attention away.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlo6eNqdim
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Steve didn't move other than frowning slightly, as if he didn't know what to make of the situation. Hanna stood on the other side of the room awkwardly, her forehead creasing. Despite his previous comment, Ethan didn't move from his position on the other side of the kitchen, rubbing his hand nervously.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYnKxmZfK6
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpoltnyU0l
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2DPXzy1uZ
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Hanna stopped to the side of the door, taking a deep breath of the crisp spring air. Sunlight was filtering through the evergreens, bathing their surroundings in a relaxing glow, in a way she would have usually enjoyed, but she was too preoccupied to appreciate. She heard the door shut and the crunch of footsteps behind her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6JmwPlDEZ
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"So what's—" Steve was abruptly cut off by Hanna spinning around to push him harshly against the wooden wall of the cabin and putting a knife to his throat. His expression reflected his state of pure shock.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfMqPHEVHD
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"I'm going to make myself very clear. I won't turn you in. You can keep whatever fee you got.” Hanna pressed the blade into his skin without drawing blood. “But if you even think of selling Ethan out again, then there won't be anywhere on this planet where you'll be able to hide," she threatened lowly. "Don't get greedy or I will skin you alive, do you understand?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lKpKhfYD5
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"Whoa, hold on now," Steve replied, very still, very conscious of the knife pressed to his throat. "I did not tell anyone Ethan was Charax."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxox7CXqks
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"Me and you are the only people who know Ethan is Charax. I know I didn't tell anyone," Hanna accused angrily.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlQ1cuta0P
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"Then we aren't the only people who know," Steve reasoned in a rush. "But you figured it out without anyone telling you, someone else could too."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7YYXghUq8
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixOVkTMgj7
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"I tried to tell him that he wasn't doing a good job of keeping the symptoms hidden but he didn't listen to me," Steve argued further, fear bleeding into his voice.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQZcM0hMvu
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Hanna pressed her lips together. She had to admit he had a point. Someone else must have given Ethan the Trazinol, she reasoned, and Steve looks like he’s telling the truth.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKh0Ecwwmi
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"I've known him for years, don't you think I would have cashed in earlier if that's what I wanted?" Steve argued fearfully.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKahU4FwOaU
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5UecEEMI8
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Steve rapidly backed away from her, along the wall and away from the door. "You really think I would have come up here on my own if I'd sold him out?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsrUVTuxq5
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrtAO1MSZR
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVapFCbC3fJ
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGX5UAM1bV
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHd2P02S6B
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rMKCk9BA9
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GfxW5HZs8
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"Yeah, we're both a little on edge. Whoever kidnapped him is still out there." Some of them, that is, Hanna thought smugly, keeping those details to herself.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXB7FnNd8z
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxKrSzLEvX
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Hanna glanced back at the door, thinking about Ethan's earlier reaction. "That's probably for the best. Thanks again for helping us."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90x5oTh8yP
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Hanna went back inside as Steve got back in his car. She entered the main room to find that Ethan had vanished, the remaining bags left unopened on the table. That might have sent off alarms in her mind, but there was only one door to the place and she'd been next to it the whole time. He must still be here and, thankfully, there wasn't much cabin to search.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRzRcHfUcr
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Hanna hadn't expected to find Ethan sitting on the floor in the corner of the bedroom, of all places. In the bedroom itself, not strange. Sitting on the floor, a bit odd when there was a perfectly fine bed to sit on right next to him. In the corner, that just seemed uncomfortable.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBqbsULlC9
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As Hanna entered, Ethan didn't move from his position, his right leg stretched out in front of him with his forehead resting against the wall. He'd wrapped his left arm around him, between him and the wall, keeping it out of sight. It might have been an effective strategy if Hanna hadn't already noticed that the tremors were back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGmjnTy7Y5
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbASFeMvXF
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmlJBLazpu
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkA8Yxajdo
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS9K0iNCN6
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tIja3kFLF
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgmSt14vDN
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ693qF1Zysr
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGWskVSibX
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4IcQuh68z
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyqxAtbFAn
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Hanna didn't know what to make of that. He'd been going to work the whole week... she'd never imagined the extroverted salesman would prefer to be alone. Maybe this is a heat symptom, she wondered. "Um... hey, at least you didn't try to attack him or do something crazy," Hanna tried to reassure him jokingly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqJf3gJwR6
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SWtSplspW
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07vuG1bdfJ
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Ethan nodded, adjusting his arm to press into his side. "I really don't want to be around people right now."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXAoAgwxuW
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu2TGNSsjm
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33NIliaJDz
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2ZPfeC2wL
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kBEwb3FDu
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sZK6AwPGx
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Ethan watched her go regretfully. Having her walk away from him... hit something inside him. It left him feeling empty, with undertones of a different kind of pain. He was struck by the realization that he wanted her to stay with him. He decided to ask her to stay, before noticing she had already gone and he had been staring at an empty doorway.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZohBvCDaqE
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Part of him was slightly unnerved by how dependent he'd become on her, and how rapidly. The heat was bad enough without his body punishing him for every moment they were apart. Irritation chased the thought, making him change his decision. He relaxed into the wall as he pressed his fingers into his injured ankle, letting one kind of pain wash away another. The emptiness inside him persisted, settling deeper as he continued to watch the open doorway.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVC1khORO9
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Ethan was surprised to see Hanna come back into the bedroom a few minutes later. She'd changed into a t-shirt and skirt, a more casual outfit than he'd ever seen her in. The light mix of pink and orange suited her well, and matched her new upbeat mood. Without saying a word, she sat down next to him on the floor and opened the book she'd brought in.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkncMgnKrNb
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9E7pdSoFm
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDck84e8APD
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Ethan leaned his head on her shoulder, deciding to watch her solve it. He didn't want to admit to himself how much her simply being there made him feel better. The way she gnawed on the end of her pencil as she stared at the page intensely made him want to smile. He caught himself relaxing into her, pressing his body into hers, and consciously readjusted to not put too much weight on her. He hoped it hadn't been a noticeable mistake, given how Hanna was still engrossed in her puzzle.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5rkpLRTQB
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdtIWygopg
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Ethan sat upright, stretching out his neck. He'd already solved most of the puzzle in his mind and didn't actually need to look at it anymore to solve the rest.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoZFC7ahLo
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jxojNSUBP
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswXm5zqouv
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P27kGhOj3
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41A6lsVa2C
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCU0rkgikL
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Ethan silently watched her continue to struggle with the puzzle. Occasionally, she would glance up at him before returning her eyes to the page, the pencil still in her mouth. Minutes later, she still hadn't put a single word in.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftn1ZGM9lU
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kY4iBLqQ9
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm3JeyIhaI
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1KBYo1Vav
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Hanna struggled for a few more minutes. Nose still in the book, she suddenly spoke quietly. "Six letters. One of the five senses. Ends with N."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBQDpfHpJ1
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL6J2xzsCr
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwHxLYqpwY
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7udkXP3u1
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgHgyLDlOz
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JamFkZMl1
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"I'm just checking." Hanna said with a huff. She paused, staring at the page. "Seven letters. A piece of furniture like a foot stool."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyPfHXPVNY
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCvWMlXoFW
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4obz28PNO
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2eSwXbZ6j
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbERzp3o3by
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrC6nxoi8Y
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Hanna laughed lightly. "You already solved half of it, I don't think it's mine anymore." She noticed the look on his face as she got up. "I'm not leaving the cabin, I just need a shower," she reassured him.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfxxXFhexY
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Ethan quickly hid his expression and nodded slightly in response before turning his attention to the half-finished puzzle, aiming to complete it in the next couple minutes.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OG5az22Au
