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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURtsbK3rfK
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyYjCRf2do
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf66gN9Kq3x
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTE384FEdt
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ODKJF9DbC
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fwBnC19AG
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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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVRC5mxSSo
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq4vsly0fy
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwNCCoKUOh
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOPvQwezgz
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPPNOnuUVx
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDun9Xp3lR8
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvkuXrG48j
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp03CxN24zj
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq4wSdxlVa
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbJomjUmdt
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4O1x0zCvV
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyFVeIq9De
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXbA8UUFZW
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOt0tDDzgU
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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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyctWeuNG4
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f0d1abp7V
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWcaDbjeuW
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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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSiFh4nVmF
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY3Fo5rIzC
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLHA8ywPmt
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13bDkjFGKb
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ891Wd8lCSu
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeV82c6JlH
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uukDcQ8sD
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL0BvC4qgF
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRCdS39Y4Q
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDDDqEWAHq
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMyhQ6MyYi
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGgV3FyEcs
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhr30gGjGA
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMmuyS9rte
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG6H4PiUHc
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeOPCMPvPG
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJ13ZdF8WR
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6h2F4jUkL
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WOHvOD8El
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyttyKNR2u
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoZDvmKNNZ
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVoMQ9psue
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7netEaG1G
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF26V7qU4O
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kFFc9hLL0
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqv72Xu5VP
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeywM0XmX2A
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLfjVRz37G
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVykOfuDXUt
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2N80xpp5iU
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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?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI6pbdnyeH
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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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rDO26EbV6
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsict7sNnW5
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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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgjaVe60ff
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EtN9DHFeZ
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZYgKdBQWD
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U5puz0xn1
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLI8nLgn1D
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu0Q3ryp97
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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?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl4kYWQkrP
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK3QZ1JMlq
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipHW7obdlG
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaehXbpkCv
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU2DxcfWOI
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkmmM3DNIp
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dYL0HB9cg
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJVyV8CWAV
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUfmNalxsy
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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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVrg58iXvd
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbxabbDgSa
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLjHZ6BdT2
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vsGaxzB0z
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWoq9vbSjw
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhriqZC3kE
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihfb1NNfxR
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOLzQlYSTc
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TaJZoACCX
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZwOJVXvim
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zWBJmFQ09
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbvUio3SmJ
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK0HPrpZZ7
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81jpVRB5pp
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZf2US0yOF
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxGlsJ1diC
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPC61H3ZdY
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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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77kz7NkvCw
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0r8kLKz94
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jQlUXYsFs
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeijeHhk2g
"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSNnA0lfRx
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDBY5DHJ2c
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBI8vo8erB
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp3xG7Ekma
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6sYy6XMQZ
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsD4FZXVUn
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZE6WrqTBz
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIdGlvqBb9
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qZJDqAS88
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsMo391cmr
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RrFKFKCEc
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXzmwMprPn
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYdGokgczW
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzS0XuNEhu
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkMtwJPj6r
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq4TPeHTM2
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZv9PoS2mt
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNWX1EneWS
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV90zYQurq
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRfKd3IxtH
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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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJFN4wQ5ow
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7neEY5tUe5
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawu5sMQ9fS
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIWau7chhd
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgOuTF0Rlv
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkcnnDyTwj
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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."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWibQmu7is
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6cxauv2y3
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGQRiQv2Il
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZDVJqC1bP
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ0lOb909P
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ib59xXKQu
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA3Nv7qSlI
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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.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W42eHjSTf
