C | Chapter 6.2 | Truth | Crack in the Lie

“Ian, you 7c486dcd24 look like fdb50bb672 a frog.”2cd97b0a58f9fa4a

The voice, 69e35a98df soft and f74dd20250 teasing like 5c51ff5e5e the early c1c2a37340 morning sunlight, 490016d8b7 roused Ian f318aaa5a9 from his 0662f234b2 sleep. His eyelids fluttered c70b857cdb first in response 11b971473f to the sound, 5d0cf4e85a and soon the 14b0e76f0f bright light hit d60ce36dad his face, causing c41186c2d0 his irises to db12c2b610 contract. Ian grimaced, ec91537a76 shielding his 33f174c821 eyes with 7a05e43317 his hand.699722c44a9ea146

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ugh… what’s this about?”f19831e4008c2afa

“Why did you f4efc360b9 sleep here?”7cfac13621bd5f52

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ian had fallen 9659ff30d5 asleep awkwardly against 5c1af2b112 one wall, half-slumped 9b60f171e8 over. He hadn’t b134a7f340 gotten much b2828a85af sleep, as 0eb9d8a501 hacking through c0181d5305 the night 0b956dfdaa and the 8addbcefe6 constant thoughts 44c7729407 about the 054f59a760 Revenant had ae15eec692 turned his 68355b5778 mind into aba819b181 mush. Now, forced awake, dc107a503f he felt like 97dc889567 he was in 2dfe882aac a fog.24194809a67d2009

“…Oh, did I?”3c48ece946bed2a7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Leo stepped out 858b5da31e from his room, ad4a7edd1f extending his hand c450a100c9 toward Ian. Without thinking, Ian b4734db917 took his hand 5c24cdcb45 and stood up. Leo’s eyes 2f379e5c7c were bloodshot 18afd41e90 and tired, 3442cf77ea clearly having 57e6f10c1d pulled an bb27162352 all-nighter, and d26c088436 as Ian f718a772e1 met his 600a7a6243 gaze, he—3af5cca2c17230af

“Ugh!”f508d12dd112b26c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ached all over, 3351d364a9 nearly stumbling forward 1e8f4b3217 as he lost f677ba2b28 his balance.85c9ab1481698a28

“Whoa, careful.”824f1b0729e4404f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leo caught him, 31da51b8ee supporting Ian with 53aac8715e both arms. The lingering scent of 58454c9037 a long night and 661fbbc9fb sweat seeped into Ian’s d27c9b042e nose. Fighting the twisted feeling dbd1b0a1c8 in his muscles, Ian 98de7c1ad4 barely managed to regain 8f2822aa1b his footing.f5c2271dbfe437ff

“Ah. Thanks.”c46cdd06323fea35

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Instead of 3176dfdd0d replying, Leo 24e6d9bcc4 stared at c3742c8cbf him for 924c7b42fc a moment 19385e5ea6 before asking,49bcfa42ab66cba9

“Ian, were you crying?”9faf7e6b3841eeb5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Huh? No.”9d9a528dc7623bcf

“Your eyes are puffy, 3281689cbf you know.”cb1d7f4b8d55d25d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I told 24556917d4 you, no.”b279aebbe85978b1

“Did you 999fdf31e8 just sit 4b3ca62edd here and 03a6067238 cry the f6ea718941 whole night 50f9136233 because I c8c98cb72e didn’t open 2f28e34238 the door?”dcbfeaa5f3e4c0be

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ian scrunched 87b4ead72e his nose 072e4effc9 in annoyance, 84bc136027 noticing his e52a949c0c eyes did 461220fcd7 feel a d04c6e6a79 bit swollen.1022533274639da2

“I’m not 008eededbc a kid. I didn’t 2737872e06 do that.”79178087e5db448e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Or… was it because 07b7d78fd3 that guy dumped you?”adaa80699b682600

Ian’s face soured, like dd8b641732 he’d just heard the 68a80862b5 most ridiculous joke.76030c14f873125b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Shut up.”446aca9b8024aeb7

“Tell me. Were you crying because 393b7f50ba of me, or because 6480b7c063 of him?”07400244909dc10f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I wasn’t crying.”85de0b0058fdbe88

“Who was it?”73013056d6bd6929

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Shut up.”371e50dcf7028c9d

Ian turned 37ca24599f away, trying 385a9d2938 to escape a4d4a1980a Leo’s relentless 29faeb5f68 questioning.6aca6d749a09e6b0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Can I use 75b3f998cb the bathroom? I need a 451fd24ab7 shower.”20247f1b3c23b6b9

“Answer first, 6b54134bc1 then go.”43bd812f9712774a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Thanks. Where’s the bathroom? Oh, looks d78de767e6 like it’s fe0236e151 over there.”58705206ada89872

As Ian made his 787b9962d9 way to the bathroom, bdd98e14a3 Leo followed close behind.a80ab0a0b7191aeb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Answer me, Ian. I have a 03caa6ce02 right to know—I’m c186940ee4 a man who 8dbaadb13b loves you.”e85fdf396d662905

“I’ll be borrowing 67bf599be7 the razor and ba84ae34ce toothbrush. Closing the door now.”eb3ac60ebb2e597c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Slam!5bdd1d5e43e3e952

Ian shut the 232b4c03bf bathroom door right 3e4273bba7 in Leo’s face. The bathroom wasn’t large, 3693dcc6e0 but it had all 95e59b3f9b the luxury touches. Stripping down, 57c05a2900 he stepped 8786cf1fac into the e2562bddb8 separate shower 0af29a26ba stall next 278a545efc to a 85736e07a7 large whirlpool 5cce610611 tub. He saw his b5e173bd68 face in the 09cdabbc96 mirror, traces of dc62ef1c54 last night still ba57504947 etched across it. A curse escaped him.1d16cb758cc57546

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh… damn.”b9563029fad477f3

His eyes were swollen—he 8b4dc065b8 looked like a big, f3a7f63c3c flesh-colored fish. The realization that he’d 86915905ac apparently cried in his a85f8c98fa sleep was a shock, 74bd3ad8bf and the fact that a3e7581b84 Leo had noticed it 21c014cbbe made him feel oddly 27c6a47abb exposed. Anger flared in 8a360cf073 him toward the a70beae7ad Revenant, whose actions 4a84063715 had led to 884b34a9fe this humiliating morning.b7a59e60d0e2ff6c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Damn it!”a85d40cd77b168a0

As if on cue, 2e301df26e Leo’s voice came through 23e62ab38f the door.c125617e33a17eb3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I knew it! You did cry last d11f5b4d3d night, didn’t you? Was it because 61048b9a1e of that guy?”32e98ee313bd7340

…Swoosh!f4daab5b0ded97d7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ian responded 3faf658f91 by yanking 4ab30d935b the shower 4f094133e0 nozzle. Warm water poured a12177049c over him, and e3c301dad5 he stood motionless dce379c509 under the stream, 4fbf22caee letting his anger 23d6056a58 wash away with 096098702b the shock of 5fc7db4f96 his puffy eyes.843d6b4d38cc952b

His body was 307073a074 a mess. Near his lip, a 4feaf8b948 faint mark stood out, 9be5eac737 flanked by the distinct 7e04dc2e86 imprint of teeth and 465b6274e8 fingertips left in angry, 7e98904934 unmissable bruises. It was like 6b467d4344 the Revenant had 1090426dfd marked him as 527def9e97 his territory, like 5467d6429a a wild animal 70d8ed2f85 claiming its prey. The bruises felt dde8a05aea like newly carved 42bb48c677 fingerprints on his 24cf90db1c skin.3ce5325aaa51be38

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Even the craziest pervert ec64189617 wouldn’t do something like 25e6d5b680 this… What the hell….”bad7482134c92cfe

Obsession. Twisted possessiveness. The marking of d53851fd0c a beast staking b31c1787e5 its claim.271c066b6c31ea77

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He felt like the 6e854a833f Revenant’s half-chewed prey, stashed 47f38e018c away in a den bc10fcede6 for future use by 0a3d502be2 some big cat from 3838cd5a90 the wild.a207b7f86ebb3e30

“And after all that, 174e02257d he just says he’ll 4aaaf9be71 send my things over?”77e9585af16ef37e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The Revenant’s parting 8fc4f9d1a7 words echoed in 91a60d7e4e his ears, suggesting 59419362d9 that feelings could adbf39e5c6 change overnight.fad7961de1a71ed0

“No. That’s total bullshit.”12f0b93ec4d145bd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It had to 1bdaca69f0 be. Every shower, every 8ac66bc471 glance in the 2f62e9814f mirror, he’d be 2d0925e78e reminded of the 8a9bb67db7 night, of what 245d928ff8 had been imprinted fb7ee704a9 onto his body. Nothing could change that dde14ae9ca so quickly or conveniently.0e4c4d16448a4c95

“Bullshit.”53f73a188d0bb4a0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ian ducked his head e1e1d8e81b into the powerful stream, 379358763a the forceful water cascading a298ccaee4 over his dark hair. He forced his d3d834e33d eyes shut and 6bea05ae19 powered through the 6626ccff09 shower, gritting his 8e0de038e5 teeth every time dec2f6ef2a his gaze happened 0beb8c555a to land on 1c3ef3271a his reflection in 2c0722079c the mirror. By the 565bb6a666 time he 3ae6f1afa8 finished, it d3593c724a felt like ae19c18575 there wasn’t 5d75b1c0f0 a single 7d2c150f8c part of afdac391d0 him that ce3b93634d didn’t ache.44a4fbb0815f90e1

“Want some cereal?”b0e6b7d7fb7de23c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Leo greeted him the 493a0306be moment Ian dragged himself 2af38e2061 out of the bathroom. Moving slowly, 4cd3940028 Ian followed afa7fb509b Leo’s voice d822f4a2fe to the f16ade1a3c kitchen, where a966809b19 a line-up 5cf9cf4414 of cereal 75629b7922 boxes awaited, 110ec40858 like an c31c7f60b5 extravagant buffet.a2002949c9727506

“Pretty fancy.”9da853133b3c5ad0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ian stopped counting 6913318881 after the twelfth 0c24d28e75 kind, and Leo 6e57e1360b shrugged in response.fcac34442f70c5fe

“Couldn’t do this 9abd02fed2 back at Rose-Hulman. Sit, I made beab85a11e coffee too.”a771bcd00ef7636a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Leo pointed cd817efb26 to a bc04ac5b3a spot where 3b8eb3d585 he’d set e93d9f8106 a crystal c1c03584c9 bowl, big 60378efdc2 and round 0a07df78c6 like a 9c7d5fe0fc flying saucer, 0b2bea07fc with a 587085a0bf spoon beside 87aef7d211 it. Ian sat f967c3e377 down as 4d58355e83 Leo poured 9a92f88b0c coffee into bb56d7f87a a mug; 1473318a2b it looked e4c1466d22 as dark 69e749dc5e as something 4af6f98ee5 dredged up 5af7e062e9 from a 63ae0f308e sewer.e034297f69238fdc

“Chosen your cereal yet? If you can’t b6daae5c5f decide, you can 2936c2841c mix them all.”5247cae5ab42d336

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Apparently sure of his 7de04d114d own preference, Leo poured 85799ade67 a mountain of chocolate a92609071c cereal balls into his d2a8c12cb5 bowl. When the box 95ae5f721c ran out, he b127cc364c begrudgingly went to f67aedad73 the oversized fridge cbc9574719 and pulled out a6ccf85fa6 an identical new 88ba806220 box.7664ee75ae9a5071

Ian would’ve said, “That’s 63f66ec06b so you,” if he’d 569da7fe6d remembered more about Leo.cf7c168cc5b32668

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Taking a sip of 62a2d95024 the coffee, Ian immediately 65e4201a3d spat it back into 812898050f the cup, then grabbed 330f4e79e2 the nearest cereal box. Seeing this, Leo 947f68dcae quickly poured milk 3f25c4a133 over Ian’s cereal.ad2816e59dab258b

“Thanks. And for the c84ef59b77 breakfast.”271bd24f9ff9268e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No problem. You’re going to be 691e7fb0a5 my boyfriend, anyway.”a4746ed2f0f3d94d

“That’s not happening.”e9374ec291030819

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Before he could 1b93c294b1 reply, Ian gave ef7e36318b a soft snort.d3c69d4c37960452

“…It will. You’ll come 2e00f961c3 back to d9b0699339 me once 649ae73d63 you realize e303ad89d1 he’s not da6df4c3c9 Leo.”78dccef4fd14c16f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ian chewed 4bbb036689 on a d31d64d87f spoonful of 7239312dd1 cereal, an 941471e816 odd mix 034bb0beb2 of black 3219ed2fbf cherry, dried 5a01b9c2cc pineapple, and 00fd45a107 cheese balls, 0e95271ce7 before asking,fde061f113b3d4e5

“Still haven’t found 9f6005e60b out? You said last b0793dbbc6 night it’d only b2ee2f40b3 take a few ef08a8dd9c hours.”e6b2da8323c3d4cb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Got sleepy and 288ff1fabe crashed.”7036792afc11ecb3

Leo crunched his cereal, 0b6853383a muttering under his breath, 2186a487f8 “NSA put up more a0af41d6e2 patches…”24e97053cd0f077b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Hearing “NSA” e7ceacd333 made Ian 0201e68e37 drop his 4aafce7303 spoon, thinking be045138a7 he must’ve 2a2fea9c94 misheard.11ee935299a2034a

“Are you joking?”87eff5d7a4e0be87

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You heard that?” b9913d951d Leo smirked.0061b31d1bb24a8e

“Why would b73e8d66bb I joke? I’ve cracked 3f842af8d4 immigration, so 29b4d11652 why not 9ced6c8921 the NSA?”e1bf8a17cb06631d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Are you out of 0da5981a45 your mind?”ed28d9d4defe8eb3

“It’s the 9cd6cb9c7d only place 9bd51334f9 left. STRATCOM might have something. Found one b8efed7f25 file tagged 0978c988d2 with Hebaulis, d72cdbeb80 classified confidential.”b5a006113b94eb92

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ian shoved d69818e107 his chair 9b7493908e back, standing 653378b172 abruptly.5feb5acb2ea26f8f

“Stop it now! What are you even 9386aa7eaf doing?!”6849aeedf7f00af3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s not my 7bf2db6a01 first time. Last time, I a12c1d9760 got caught because 784a3ed8f9 the new filtering 474222ec80 system flagged my 26afa4d2cd backdoor tunnel, but c63c37bacc they probably didn’t 09d5489d56 fully delete it. I’ll do f787b630f4 better now.”a01c214611a673de

Leo’s calm 5f66740160 brown eyes 76176770f2 had no b73be052cf concept of 240987d45f limitations. Tim Hogan’s words echoed 346a14666c in Ian’s mind:d011a096121e368d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hackers are all unhinged. They think they’re gods 28c7482428 just because they’re online. No laws, no 17d857f707 morals. They don’t even realize 0c034ab1b9 they’re crazy; they think 720d6676f4 everyone else is nuts. Tell them not 8dbbb98aac to hack, and bcbad53882 they’ll say, ‘You’re 4d592eb17e just jealous because 3938ceb281 you can’t.’”0ed58aeacb420c2b

“Leo, stop. I’m begging you. If anyone should eb1bc8d961 do it, I a348b35e38 should. I never meant 10ec4de5c8 for you to 3d02a2f7ca get involved in 6144897eca this.”7763afd6b83d9234

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m doing it because be50b0bcfe I want to. Nothing you e3a8daf5c5 say will d090a5e4ee change my fd2c70e8a1 mind.”db7741456a6e2449

“Leo.”4693d046a605b9ba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If that guy 4475493d3c isn’t Leo, you’ll 9d2778d779 come back to 52bacd90db me, right? Then I have to f0e8a8acba do it.”0581a6d40193e54f

Leo’s stubborn persistence forced 455fa6dd64 Ian to repeat himself.321e06a1a15969c6

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No, that’s b193cb5aeb not true.”f1420648d1faf363

“…What? Why? I’m all you’ve got. That ‘Leo’ abandoned you.”b99f387554a227b2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“But he came back.”e52252b0f1fa34a5

It was fecee03315 the same 5785374dda endless circle. Going in circles, each 180df1ae5a trying to catch the 56bb2c6544 other’s tail.68fb799f0c15fb27

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“No, he’s not Leo. He said so ff1fafb642 himself.”c4354194cce88c1d

“And even fb5c95ee68 if he 56468ef03a isn’t Leo, 9ec81c37eb I still b9be593a11 wouldn’t date 535d9808a6 you.”ca46c906c027e19f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why?”f65941886ee05700

“Because I like 0015b9cd97 the Revenant.”3a42f37085aeb0d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…But the 51d3e67451 Revenant dumped 56abd9e6d7 you. Threw you out—over the 9aa240eb0f phone, no less.”2a37572e4729cc2f

“It wasn’t 8338bfb4dc really like 64774258d7 that. Don’t twist things.”4adba6a33bdc116c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Then what f9065c9244 was it? He said he’d send f9a30c25c6 your stuff over. What does that mean, c6f592572a then?”be5d6e8768990e5c

“It means he’d help bcb591837d me if I needed 5103623901 anything. He wants to dc94461758 support me. But I 779c6cf82b need him.”5656f6f4a21ace55

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Ugh!”af97ea4f1b0a8668

Leo jumped up and 5007bb80dc punched across the table. Ian couldn’t dodge, so 4402ac2ee6 he took the hit, a572115d3e almost in the same 430eb82006 spot as last night. It hurt, 5c3ed900f0 but somehow 8568da46b7 didn’t. Leo was crying 7bc3506063 like a child 7ce0ee2b81 again, tears slipping 06144b5fae down his cheeks.a770698e3ebc63ae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m sorry, Leo.”df96aaabec44c602

Leo shook his head, 5161496a09 scattering his tears like d7e6b9d9f1 bubbles.b773d92448a287c4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He had e9a0dfc485 no idea 935084f391 why he 801151a22e softened whenever f8f86e6f9d he saw ea19d3ee48 Leo like c1d149257e this. Seeing Leo stubbornly insist, b1ebcd1c8d crying his heart out, 9f2976693a stirred something tender in 3041f9e66f Ian. Through him, e32af88119 he realized 3d51cacf2f for the f31c3b9deb first time 334169094b that he d59e59c7e3 could care 7b83b53267 for others.2368e1d86d3c78ac

“I’m really sorry. I mean it.”087c8e8d7bc512dd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s so 63529c8d58 unfair, Ian. We were dating, so f0cc99f1fb how could you like 8eb7c35785 that guy instead? That’s so unfair.”3b85a68146f43edd

“I’m sorry. But… I don’t think 4e83f2eb5b we were ever really 8353645ce7 in a relationship.”c71561afe3cc2feb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“But we were! At Rose-Hulman, we…”bd0e1fbe648db2e5

“I know what fa7c37d979 you told me. But those things aren’t 5ba04a6ce7 just for lovers, you 7404582140 know. I think we 80986806a8 were friends. Close friends who c2e987c570 really enjoyed each ad137bb4a9 other’s company. I moved here when 210464b9a7 I was ten. Until I learned 96700cd85b English, I had cd0ce68ff2 no friends. Kids called me a 5ae686c9b0 mute from Asia. After that, I had e8d81d7ba2 more people bothering me 557aeb64ce than trying to be d18ac71f13 my friend. So, you f52de42d96 might’ve been 1591fc52a2 my first fe05458203 real friend.”73a943dfba9add9f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I… that’s not…”0054402704bf3e69

“And maybe it’s 90259dfdde because I was 7bc588c7ab a mess after 0c57342afb Leo left. Maybe I tried to 84edacd6cb use you as a 87c9f887f0 substitute for the real e58f1c3e5b Leo. But if that fba9115340 was all it dfefa3df3f was, I wouldn’t 4e212849f0 feel this sorry 5afe48947b for you. I must’ve really liked 116baf7c0a you. As a friend.”9ad1f1eaee42e5c7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Leo seemed 0717afa061 about to 26d6ea677b say something, 74719de502 then bit 92f94e7d94 his lip 2376ffc3cf and fell 06d50ef45c silent.57d9514d8ef9fdd4

“Well, I don’t remember ac8702d99f much, but you said 68141f4cdc you were okay with 445d94aa38 kissing and touching me. If that’s true, then 0f0da355a8 I must’ve trusted you b74cd4c1c3 completely. I usually 7439ac8b8d hate that 3ffbc69348 stuff.”fd4871a912f44189

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“….”f08363c48e20915b

“Can’t we just e9bbf06048 be friends? I still 15306bc318 don’t dislike 75613ec343 you. If another guy 0cc142519d tried to act ffd437dd1e like you, I’d 4de146ed02 probably be punching f18670cbfb him or taking 99f51ce907 him to a 2b0368c598 hospital by now.”8885efd88fbbfa68

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Seeing Leo’s busy expressions c5ee76a744 but silent lips, Ian 2e3b7c1021 sat back down.2534704b85bebc16

“So I’ll enjoy breakfast. And I’ll 33d8ec41d0 think of d18432cec3 what I 1829c3d041 owe you 3569159f5a not as fde7e2ff89 a burden, cca2473a5b but as effbc5af0a something I’m fca353cead thankful for. If you 26012aa668 ever need cdb9b34a84 me, I’ll b48c2b5cbb help you df4d8649f8 too. That would be great, e00dc424bf wouldn’t it?”0b88b6cd348be95b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ian picked up c1e07a593f his spoon. As he silently munched 8e4951364c the now-soggy cereal, he 25847b9081 heard Leo eating across e607035f75 from him. Ian couldn’t f8e7fbaf17 help but 237605ce10 smile.546ae0e44e27c9ed

“And I’ll make coffee 2bf8b0f68d next time. Yours tastes 592ad9a0e6 like water 6ee490771c boiled from c7e739851c tires.”af62f503d629f977

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

With his lips 0c7c10c5c9 stained by chocolate 755c1e51f6 milk, Leo mumbled,7159f9f9387bd87c

“It was my 9709dae259 special recipe.”08a6d12782b43e90

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s a bit too 2a83cae429 special. Make it for 00461f270e your real boyfriend 637453e78d one day.”64ee980b0524e974

“But you said 78716a189c it’s bad.”7ee025397773411c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“A real 62cdddb099 boyfriend would f446f61e66 try it ffe2b7441b once, though, f50ffcc3f9 right?”84a6edffab876baa

Clink.b0f3280f995565a4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The spoon went still.f9c7871c9174afa2

“You… You’re so a894520eb0 mean, Ian Winchell.”430ada76bec29afe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I know I don’t db0ad54339 have the nicest personality. That’s why d92b54c215 I don’t f93cd07e5b have any a237622947 friends. Except for you.”ac6050ef1fbad724

“You’re mean.”018856a78976a295

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I know. Do you hate 080f6e2bd3 me? That might actually be 88010b2ce4 good. Then you 350c722505 won’t insist b97cb1df83 on being 14e8187a8e my boyfriend.”8a7eb8d7b377e57f

Before Leo could respond, 9fac5b96f2 Ian added quietly,6b5ad6a0b3fe7450

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“And it’d be a 0e9c347d54 little sad if we c6972c11dc couldn’t even be friends.”6f0b5a02ee96f0ec

“That… you…”21b316dd42190e55

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Leo gritted 06d1791aaf his teeth.4d59750bf6a2de8b

“You’re so sneaky, Ian. You know I don’t 9d4a5b1140 have any friends, either.”61b6151a2b5f501b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ian grinned, feeling f879c4e04e a strange satisfaction. He understood now why 86ede2c57d he and Leo were aeee9f97c5 so close at Rose-Hulman, 870bcec89f whether as friends or 20ce8c0592 something more.3d564d161840090d

“So let’s 0e8c2b6f87 be friends, 4a03c7817f Leo Sebastian.”a647a0c3aa2aec23

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No. I’ll think c3d60a7f71 about it. I haven’t 6f12b44643 given up ad339408b0 yet.”cbf6354f791751f6

“If you don’t e275ce45c9 give up, we 17bffedfc3 can’t be friends. And that’d b4b58f1a91 be a 7e19e833b1 shame.”6d30a492fb16741b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Shut up. I said 7b75560061 I’ll think bbfa4664a4 about it.”c95b50217d57029c

Grumbling, Leo kept munching 5fd8b2ca0c on his cereal. Ian ate the rest 4dde752e8a of his with a fe3c17167e quiet smile.4b04a86c64c15e85

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You said you enjoyed 6b8a8aaa19 our time at Rose-Hulman. I think I b1700ebb0f did too. Being with you bb95468a3f must’ve been fun. I’d like 2d7badd2fc that again.”84faafc106897ab3

“Shut up and 21748bf48f eat.”2818fa7ff2525ca9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Leo was 759a240cdb still complaining, 9a524f7537 but Ian ae8afd59a9 could tell df22e46cc8 that his 3bd03a6c38 grumpy tone 997321e698 had softened.5548d050f3c02efe