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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPz6YFEXjq
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ9FjA4NID
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDCrTGP7Ev
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"Steve should be here soon, you might want to wake up," Hanna teased.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCOEnfTB5v
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Ethan let out a quiet, irritated groan from the sofa.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspKkqp861Y
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Hanna wondered if this was going to be a bigger problem than she had thought, given his reaction.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo2Ekneyp2
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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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwmFW8mXxB
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"I want to see him.” Ethan scowled slightly at the ceiling. "He's my friend too."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s4OnkAck8
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"Okay, but are you going to be okay with this?" Hanna asked bluntly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IKI6810as
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Ethan shrugged noncommittally.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U2MFbNZ4W
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"Then... me talking to him won't be a problem?" Hanna pressed.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FEhxkXEIX
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"You're not—" Ethan started to answer bitterly, then reconsidered. "You can talk to whoever you want to."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgqR6348sc
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"So you're not going to get... territorial or possessive or anything right?" Hanna asked awkwardly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc8CboaCZ9
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5L6gQmvbp
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXch7zLGSn
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"He's here," Hanna announced, heading towards the door.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBFpoUoBE4
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YVzPDSge9
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIUMyi3vpL
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"Thanks for coming." Ethan's gratitude was sincere, even if his pleased tone was a little forced.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfTVclbKzZ
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"Yes, thank you for bringing these," Hanna added gratefully, setting the bags on the table.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJalMeiPiqj
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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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMJLYmmSPg
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"Alive and kicking, that's us," Hanna joked back as Ethan started unpacking the bags silently.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIbCyRiW43
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"So, it really was a gang? They were after Ethan specifically?" Steve asked curiously.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HpYgbPGv4
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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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv0OSOCdv4
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Ethan flinched as Steve gave him a friendly pat on the back.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWxriLpJyw
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Steve pulled his hand away. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipD3Drm2N1
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"It's nothing, just bruises." Ethan shrugged dismissively.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknh7xY4kTW
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV06HZ6NF3
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"Was this all you could get?" Hanna asked quickly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ECWnukEOJ
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"Nope, there's more where that came from," Steve announced as he headed back out to the car.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm0RwY4fWc
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"Is it okay if I help carry stuff in?" Hanna asked Ethan quietly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tsboWKHQm
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQRnKLPpGr
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi59cEnhdX6
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpCNGYN121
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"Over there." Steve pointed to a black duffel across the room, near the hallway.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffBarhZHKZ
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Hanna saw the bag from her apartment, that she'd given him the access code for. "Clothes, yes!"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kw0ENscgp
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"Exactly where you said, I was a bit surprised that you had a bag of clothes packed already," Steve commented.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IpfffRO5e
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtucqM0NrDy
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"Let me help you with that," Steve said as he walked over to join Ethan.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjyhRpnHIu
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"Sure," Ethan answered with false enthusiasm as he kept unpacking the bags, purposely avoiding Steve's gaze.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZQbQaF0lf
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWZpuyoUFD
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM0mshJ8JP
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMUs45sSr6
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgINR9uek2g
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"I've got it." Steve went to pick up the jug and his hand barely brushed Ethan's.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd19gC7CZT
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Ethan jumped away from Steve, as if shocked.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nq8oRNIr3
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The two Terrans stared at Ethan, suddenly very aware of his strange behaviour.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgc8IZNYJ6
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavz2zxPwpb
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4knIArDWXs
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"Let's talk outside," Hanna told Steve before exiting through the door.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BAR9bxYez
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Steve glanced back at Ethan hesitantly before following Hanna reluctantly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzULrFy8xr0
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuKGOhCpVq
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fNf71HsDF
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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?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSreKTgNSt
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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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8ffNJJK8P
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZXji7ARul
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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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EsJSi9MZb
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Hanna considered that as she continued eyeing him suspiciously, holding her blade steady.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jnBT13daV
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu4h0PrUfv
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKA5ZqXmno
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD0HrMrkn5
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Hanna lowered her knife slowly, persuaded by his words. "Okay," she relented, taking a step back.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJgCK7oH8r
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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?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4wi1I8fg2
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"Everyone gets greedy sometimes, and that can make them do stupid things," Hanna answered coldly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1XXQGiImI
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"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not going to get my friend killed for some cash," Steve defended bitterly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrksOLmu28
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Hanna twirled her shiny knife. "Still, if you tell anyone about—"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3hhqAYRox
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"You'll kill me. I get it," Steve interrupted. "But I wouldn't do that."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyWtNSOz9e
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Hanna put the knife away. "Sorry, I needed to be sure. I hope you understand."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KRoChQV9V
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Steve chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sure this whole thing would make anyone paranoid."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquo31ranv9
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYien4Ncrw
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Steve nodded, accepting the excuse. "Um... I should go then."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzmQFgGfq3
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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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH6POklOS7
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFUVzUvMRT
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOAAXh0gJM
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPOXbjZ6hu
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"There you are," Hanna remarked softly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIj0snI7uU
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"Yeah," Ethan mumbled.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5RZdt1UrX
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Hanna sat down on the end of the bed. "How are you?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEZMMLW9y8
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Ethan tilted his head up to look at her. "A little stressed."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCKPXBtW8H
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Hanna nodded understandingly. "You looked... a little uncomfortable out back there."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIWL5kSDu2
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"Yeah," Ethan agreed quietly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgzb8mSGsY
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"Why didn't you say anything?" Hanna had an exasperated edge to her voice.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wcX76l1GX
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Ethan sighed softly into the wall. "I thought I would be able to deal with it."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ972FYuQAac
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"With what exactly?" Hanna probed.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvPFJRRotm
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Ethan paused briefly. "Someone coming into this space, being near me."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdHopo1wfE
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1AowWo6BY
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"It's not—" Ethan scowled then took a long breath. "I just felt like I had to get away."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vb6rV9Rsb
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"Was this just about Steve?" Hanna probed gently.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOd89z4Q0s
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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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIiNEIC6bH
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"Am I okay?" Hanna asked hesitantly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvILSSFKWM
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"Yeah," Ethan answered softly, taking her hand gently and nuzzling it. "You're always okay."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT26wwuAhb
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"Um... I'll keep that in mind," Hanna responded uncertainly, absolutely mystified by his behaviour. "You going to get up?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYNU5OE9e7
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"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit." Ethan let go of her hand.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E8m4t2QBh
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"Okay," Hanna responded, before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcf4pO9FUJ
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdouiE0S9IH
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V09lHgiRs
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PCovafqUY
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Ethan subtlety moved his hand away from his ankle as he glanced over her shoulder. "Crosswords?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8V02yzO00
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"Yup," Hanna answered happily, pulling out a pencil.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGMK5whu00
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY9dn7rzkS
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Five minutes later, Hanna had yet to put in a single answer.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG09gflLJa4
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpz8KFi9wp
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Hanna was now biting the end of the pencil, hard.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTgm3uVfv5
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Ethan decided she could use a hint. "Seventeen down is pineapple."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCY8H3zzSU
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"Hey, this is my puzzle!" Hanna protested, angling the book so he couldn't see it anymore.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sjWiU9mv5
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"So you don't want help?" Ethan asked, amused.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozvNCdNwh3
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Hanna muttered in annoyance as she wrote in the answer, pointedly not answering his question.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPt7UNgmMe
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTqKjtQaP1
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"Maybe you should start with an easier one?" Ethan suggested helpfully.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtbcMAat8P
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"No," Hanna answered stubbornly, without looking up.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPCbAzVo2k
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Ethan smiled, already feeling much better, and relishing her frustration a little too much.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pIBVGjsno
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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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhkQj1GewK
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Ethan paused for a second to think. "Vision."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwfFuwwEpS
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"Okay." Hanna marked down his answer. "Seven letters. A light source. Second letter is A."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0OCFQRgK2
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"Lantern," Ethan replied quickly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZUpZXjydN
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Hanna gave him a skeptical look and stared at the puzzle.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFv9KQblAT
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"That's the answer. Lantern," Ethan repeated.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdJ075gJcn
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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."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hatF0qhl0
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"Ottoman." Ethan smirked slightly as Hanna filled in the sheet again.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDfyrer92A
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"You're good at this," Hanna commented.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt9nzLeQpG
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Ethan couldn't resist smiling openly now.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdblsheSfRQ
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Hanna smiled back at him as she handed him the crosswords book and chewed up pencil. "You solve it then."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44Z0bvahYX
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"What happened to 'this is my puzzle'?" Ethan teased, smirking at her.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWywPJmDVn
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75i12k1JAX
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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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QF2Ul3Mdo
