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Your Hand Found Mine
Cassandra Vasquez wasn't hiding away. She was just really busy; the design studio she and her brother owned was really starting to make a name for itself, and the work was just flying in. That was the only reason she didn't go out much, or really even keep in touch with her friends anymore. It had nothing to do with her ex; she wasn't hung up on Sarah, or afraid to get back out there. She wasn't.
But when she found that Sarah was getting married to some guy named Roger, on a day where everything else was also wrong, somehow it became harder to pretend that she was fine. She let her brother drag her away from work, just this once, to this quirky hole in the wall he knew called the One Toothed Shark. It wasn't her kind of bar at all--but something about it kept her coming back anyway. It was probably the drinks. Or, maybe, it was Hayley, that stupidly charming bartender full of idiotic ideas and armed with impeccable instincts for making Cass laugh despite herself.
... no, it was definitely the drinks, because Cassie Vasquez wasn't looking for love, and it was just ridiculous to think that Hayley, who was just being nice to one of her most awkward customers, was offering anything of the sort.
But when she found that Sarah was getting married to some guy named Roger, on a day where everything else was also wrong, somehow it became harder to pretend that she was fine. She let her brother drag her away from work, just this once, to this quirky hole in the wall he knew called the One Toothed Shark. It wasn't her kind of bar at all--but something about it kept her coming back anyway. It was probably the drinks. Or, maybe, it was Hayley, that stupidly charming bartender full of idiotic ideas and armed with impeccable instincts for making Cass laugh despite herself.
... no, it was definitely the drinks, because Cassie Vasquez wasn't looking for love, and it was just ridiculous to think that Hayley, who was just being nice to one of her most awkward customers, was offering anything of the sort.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2021
77 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
September 4, 2021
**'Writers should always tell a story the right way -- don't go hunting for words in a thesaurus, they might end up being the wrong ones --- there are no exceptions to the rules of storytelling..'
3.5stars!
A good story. Recommended to any interested readers!
3.5stars!
A good story. Recommended to any interested readers!
January 7, 2022
This needed a bit of digesting.
The first lesbian romance I ever read was one of my all time favourites: Some Part of Me is You by Adrienne Marsh, so ofcourse I had expectations here.
Your Hand Found mine is a slow burn romance of two characters, who could hardly be more different, but both with quite serious baggage. While I loved the quirky dialogues and the slow awakening of Cass, her illogical fears were not easy to understand towards the later chapters.
Hayley is a ray of sunshine from the start, apparently the total opposite to workaholic Cass. She is very lovable and I fell for her early on. It takes a while for her baggage to come out in the open, which finally forces both to get their priorities right.
While the solution to their woes isn’t easily forthcoming, in the end both decide to go for it fully and everyone else helps, too.
Having gone back re-reading some I finally ended making up my mind for five stars. Adrienne’s next one I’ll definitely read, too!
The first lesbian romance I ever read was one of my all time favourites: Some Part of Me is You by Adrienne Marsh, so ofcourse I had expectations here.
Your Hand Found mine is a slow burn romance of two characters, who could hardly be more different, but both with quite serious baggage. While I loved the quirky dialogues and the slow awakening of Cass, her illogical fears were not easy to understand towards the later chapters.
Hayley is a ray of sunshine from the start, apparently the total opposite to workaholic Cass. She is very lovable and I fell for her early on. It takes a while for her baggage to come out in the open, which finally forces both to get their priorities right.
While the solution to their woes isn’t easily forthcoming, in the end both decide to go for it fully and everyone else helps, too.
Having gone back re-reading some I finally ended making up my mind for five stars. Adrienne’s next one I’ll definitely read, too!
June 27, 2022
4 stars
This was definitely interesting. I liked both MCs and the story was good as well.
Not really special in terms of being unforgettable, but very well executed anyways.
This was definitely interesting. I liked both MCs and the story was good as well.
Not really special in terms of being unforgettable, but very well executed anyways.
May 26, 2023
I absolutely loved Adrienne Marsh’s first novel,
Some Part of Me Is You
, so I was excited to read her follow-up novel. And I’m going to be honest with you: I really struggled to get into this. And I’m not exactly sure why. It just failed to take hold of me. I never got to that can’t-put-it-down moment that happens to me with books. And, yet, I was really invested in the romance, as frustrating as that was since the characters refused to communicate any feelings at any point. It did get better the deeper I got into the novel; it just took a long time to get there.
And I’d love it if Marsh would write another novel, please.
And I’d love it if Marsh would write another novel, please.
did-not-finish
August 11, 2021Another DNF - Kindle Unlimited.
Might just be my mood tonight, but I just couldn't get into the story and specifically the MC Cass, was such a wet blanket and she was hung up on an ex that everyone tells her didn't appreciate her, and she has thrown herself into work. But her denouncement of love and not even trying to be a positive or good person or friend, grated on me. I didn't understand why the bartender Hayley liked her at all, and what she saw in her.
As always, do check it out for yourself!
Might just be my mood tonight, but I just couldn't get into the story and specifically the MC Cass, was such a wet blanket and she was hung up on an ex that everyone tells her didn't appreciate her, and she has thrown herself into work. But her denouncement of love and not even trying to be a positive or good person or friend, grated on me. I didn't understand why the bartender Hayley liked her at all, and what she saw in her.
As always, do check it out for yourself!
January 1, 2024
4.5 ★ | A beautiful slow burn romance, the slowest of the slow. Like feelings weren’t revealed until the 95% mark! 4.5 stars as I feel it was a bit rambly / unnecessary at parts. But aside from that the romance was executed and mapped out beautifully. Nice one Marsh - Can’t wait to see more from you in the future!
July 16, 2021
Lost a lot potential
So the book started out great. The characters are good and they got well together but about a third of the way through they stopped communicating and just kinda shut down. I liked the ending but a good half of the book was just them dancing around each other and not talking.
So the book started out great. The characters are good and they got well together but about a third of the way through they stopped communicating and just kinda shut down. I liked the ending but a good half of the book was just them dancing around each other and not talking.
July 12, 2021
This book was just everything! I absolutely loved our main characters, Cass and Hayley as well as all of the supporting characters. Each character was so well developed and engaging which made the story even better. The One Toothed Shark, our main setting, is a place where I would absolutely love to hang out. The dialogue between characters as well as internal dialogue was witty and I often found myself chuckling out loud. Cass was a closed off workaholic who was not looking for anything but easily found a best friend in Hayley, the stupidly charming owner of The Tooth. I rooted for these two from day one and it took a really long time for these two to figure all things out, but it was so incredibly worth the wait. This book was fantastic!!
October 4, 2021
what can i say i’m a sucker for sapphic slow burn and this book scratched that itch magnificently
January 1, 2024
Strong on character-building, and really sells the strangers to friends to lovers development. We do have a really slow burn here, possibly a bit too slow for most, but I enjoyed it. Low spice, lots of fleshing out lives and relationships with all the secondary characters as well as the main ones. Delightful, and I'll definitely be reading more from Adrienne Marsh.
July 7, 2023
hayley and cass are my Best friends they’re so important to me 🙁🫶💗
August 3, 2021
An Honest and Grand Love Story!
What was their not to love about Cassie and Haley. Cassie was in a self induced rut. Her ex was recently engaged thanks to an email her mother sent and having thrown herself into work after the breakup, she was getting fully stressed with deadlines. Her brother and partner tells her she is going with him to have drinks and get her panic attack under wraps. A break from work and a break from life. At a very different kind bar called Shark, Cassie meets the bar owner Haley. It’s a fun and very different experience with really top notch drinks. Cassie finds her self going back to the place many times as she is developing a friendship with Haley. But deep down, she feels so much more. Haley who inherited the bar after her parents were killed is really just holding it for her younger sister to take over. Trying to maintain some of her mother’s ideas and also keeping the place afloat, Haley is constantly changing things up which is exciting to Cassie to witness. So you get an idea pretty quickly that although the story is told from Cassies point of view, Haley is into her but Cassie refuses to ruin their growing friendship to test those waters. Slow burn is just that. slooooooow !!!!! I loved the connection between the two and I love that Cassie comes out of her shell and actually makes friends. There is so much sweetness involved in this story. But when Haley decides to do set ups for a dating night and forces Cassie to get involved. Things for both of them take a dangerous turn. This book was good. Long and slow but good.
What was their not to love about Cassie and Haley. Cassie was in a self induced rut. Her ex was recently engaged thanks to an email her mother sent and having thrown herself into work after the breakup, she was getting fully stressed with deadlines. Her brother and partner tells her she is going with him to have drinks and get her panic attack under wraps. A break from work and a break from life. At a very different kind bar called Shark, Cassie meets the bar owner Haley. It’s a fun and very different experience with really top notch drinks. Cassie finds her self going back to the place many times as she is developing a friendship with Haley. But deep down, she feels so much more. Haley who inherited the bar after her parents were killed is really just holding it for her younger sister to take over. Trying to maintain some of her mother’s ideas and also keeping the place afloat, Haley is constantly changing things up which is exciting to Cassie to witness. So you get an idea pretty quickly that although the story is told from Cassies point of view, Haley is into her but Cassie refuses to ruin their growing friendship to test those waters. Slow burn is just that. slooooooow !!!!! I loved the connection between the two and I love that Cassie comes out of her shell and actually makes friends. There is so much sweetness involved in this story. But when Haley decides to do set ups for a dating night and forces Cassie to get involved. Things for both of them take a dangerous turn. This book was good. Long and slow but good.
August 26, 2021
Patience required but worth it
This a slow burn romance. Very slow burn. Under different circumstances I might have given up and moved on to another book but the characters are all well written and enjoyable so I hung in 'til the end. Sweet, slow burn romance.
This a slow burn romance. Very slow burn. Under different circumstances I might have given up and moved on to another book but the characters are all well written and enjoyable so I hung in 'til the end. Sweet, slow burn romance.
October 31, 2021
Okay. It took a lot. Like, a lot a lot. Like, if not for the fact I always finish reading books I start (even if it takes me 8 years to do it), I might not have bothered.
I enjoyed this book. But at some points it felt like it dragged. And if not for the fact that I read mostly on my phone now, I probably would have thrown this fucking book multiple times without second thought.
But what's interesting is at varying points I thought I could see how something was going to happen, and then it never did. So I kept reading. An ache in my chest as I continually just yelled at these idiots to stop being idiots.
Read it. Don't read it. Whatever. Some of it feels extraneous. The majority of it is fun. It might not be a book I read again, but I don't regret taking the time to read it, so that's a plus.
I enjoyed this book. But at some points it felt like it dragged. And if not for the fact that I read mostly on my phone now, I probably would have thrown this fucking book multiple times without second thought.
But what's interesting is at varying points I thought I could see how something was going to happen, and then it never did. So I kept reading. An ache in my chest as I continually just yelled at these idiots to stop being idiots.
Read it. Don't read it. Whatever. Some of it feels extraneous. The majority of it is fun. It might not be a book I read again, but I don't regret taking the time to read it, so that's a plus.
January 21, 2022
I loved this book; it's zoomed into my top-ten list of wonderful, spirited, well-crafted lesbian romances, alongside wise and beautifully executed page-turners as K.E. Lane's "And Playing The Role of Herself," and above-the-bar- thoughtful and thought-provoking narratives like Jane Rule's "Desert of the Heart" and Cecil Dawkins' "Charleyhorse." But I should say at the outset that if you're looking for a tale involving sex by Chapter 3 followed by assorted lively variations evenly spaced throughout the remainder of the voyage--a jolly romp worthy of its own kind of praise--Your Hand Found Mine is probably not your novel. Author Adrienne Marsh has imagined her characters deeply and takes her time building protagonist Cassandra Vasquez's experience of Hayley, the ebullient, imaginative, sweet-natured bartender/bar-owner who becomes the love of her life. The indications that Cass's love is deeply and thoroughly requited pile up so convincingly through so many encounters that even readers like me, who found the whole enterprise riveting and dear, may have moments when they'll shake their heads at the page and say, "Oh COME ON, Cass, your doubt is downright pathological at this point. The lady is BONKERS for you." But if you've ever fallen in love with someone so quickly and deeply that your most profound anxiety is that you'll lose the precious blessing of her friendship if you risk letting her know you also are in love with her, you will have patience and compassion for Cass and Hayley, who both feel precisely thus, and you'll root for them like crazy, for Hayley is a well-drawn, very convincingly loveable three-dimensional being who abundantly deserves the exquisite good news that Cass has to share when she finally finds the courage to let her love be visible. And you'll enjoy basking vicariously in the dizzying joy that each sparks in the other. Marsh gives readers a feel for the poignant precariousness of the friendly local bar teetering on the edge of viability in an inexorably gentrifying D.C. neighborhood, and she draws her secondary characters effectively to build a warmly convincing community around her protagonists. Quibblers will suggest the culminating sequence is a little over-written, but phooey--it pulses with well-earned love for its people, and it makes its world so real that I feel as though I've been hanging out in the One-Toothed Shark bar every Thursday night long enough to feel a welcome regular, and expect to curl up in my favorite booth there again in imagination.
September 6, 2021
I was a huge fan of the author's previous book, so I couldn't wait to dive into this one. And I'll just say upfront that I absolutely loved it. Be warned though, that it is a very slow burn. Personally, I didn't mind because I don't think every wlw book needs to be 180-200 pages but your mileage may vary.
Pros:
-I loved the characters. All of them. Because the book is longer than a lot of others, there is more time to let the characters breathe. The side characters were well done and added to the story. The two main characters were very well developed, although admittedly, it took a little longer to warm up to Cass than to Hayley.
-I really enjoyed the casual pace. I wanted to spend as much time as I possible could with these characters and I am super sad that I can't hang out in a bar like the Shark.
-The main characters friendship was wonderful. It was so nice to read a friends to lovers romance that had a real, tangible friendship develop in the book.
Cons:
-There were some missed words/wonky phrases. It didn't bother me much, but there were some in there.
-I am not currently being served a fancy drink by Hayley while sitting in the Shark.
Easy 5 stars for me!
Pros:
-I loved the characters. All of them. Because the book is longer than a lot of others, there is more time to let the characters breathe. The side characters were well done and added to the story. The two main characters were very well developed, although admittedly, it took a little longer to warm up to Cass than to Hayley.
-I really enjoyed the casual pace. I wanted to spend as much time as I possible could with these characters and I am super sad that I can't hang out in a bar like the Shark.
-The main characters friendship was wonderful. It was so nice to read a friends to lovers romance that had a real, tangible friendship develop in the book.
Cons:
-There were some missed words/wonky phrases. It didn't bother me much, but there were some in there.
-I am not currently being served a fancy drink by Hayley while sitting in the Shark.
Easy 5 stars for me!
August 29, 2021
Very nice from the start to the middle. After that, still nice but left me wanting for more.
Like, Cass' past relationship issues just dwindled to just her family issues. Her anti romance stance and socially awkwardness weren't just her characteristics. Her ex and the bad break-up affected her and made her that way. Also, her ex's wedding invitation started all this mess, it woud've made sense if it were to be mentioned later in the book. And I wanted to see more of how the past relationship with Sarah would affect her current relationship with her new girlfriend. She was with her ex for more than a half decade but I felt like that part of Cass just faded away.
That is not to say I didn't enjoy this book. Characters were all nice and likable and well developed even the side characters. I even like this very slow pace and their friendship. If there will be a sequel I'll be happy. More so if that is going to be from Haley's POV.
Like, Cass' past relationship issues just dwindled to just her family issues. Her anti romance stance and socially awkwardness weren't just her characteristics. Her ex and the bad break-up affected her and made her that way. Also, her ex's wedding invitation started all this mess, it woud've made sense if it were to be mentioned later in the book. And I wanted to see more of how the past relationship with Sarah would affect her current relationship with her new girlfriend. She was with her ex for more than a half decade but I felt like that part of Cass just faded away.
That is not to say I didn't enjoy this book. Characters were all nice and likable and well developed even the side characters. I even like this very slow pace and their friendship. If there will be a sequel I'll be happy. More so if that is going to be from Haley's POV.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2021
Just lovely…
… and sweet, as in heartwarming. Cass is no mystery. I can relate to being so socially awkward and aware of it - knowing I miss social cues and nuances, finding refuge, well, not in work but other solitary pursuits. And Haley, just charming. This oblivious pair would be kind funny were it not for all the angst. Just when the angst gets a bit much things shift. The sex, when it gets to it, is very PG. One of the things that makes this book so enjoyable is that it flows beautifully. There are a few words that seem repetitive and some don’t seem to fit. In the final analysis, it’s really well written. The characters are well developed. There are some food references I just didn’t get. But in the end, I loved it.
… and sweet, as in heartwarming. Cass is no mystery. I can relate to being so socially awkward and aware of it - knowing I miss social cues and nuances, finding refuge, well, not in work but other solitary pursuits. And Haley, just charming. This oblivious pair would be kind funny were it not for all the angst. Just when the angst gets a bit much things shift. The sex, when it gets to it, is very PG. One of the things that makes this book so enjoyable is that it flows beautifully. There are a few words that seem repetitive and some don’t seem to fit. In the final analysis, it’s really well written. The characters are well developed. There are some food references I just didn’t get. But in the end, I loved it.
September 15, 2021
I can't say I have strong feelings one way or another. For a standalone, I think I can safely say this is the longest I have waited in a romance for two people to sort themselves out. I was at least 90% in before they got together! But it was very cute and very sweet. Watching them become friends first was very enjoyable, and showed what a great couple they could be. I was sad that they had to let the Shark go, but starting over isn't so bad. And I like the implications it left for the future, for their friendships and families.
Overall, would recommend, especially for romance lovers that don't like sex-heavy stories.
Overall, would recommend, especially for romance lovers that don't like sex-heavy stories.
September 8, 2021
A Slow Burn Romance Worth the Wait
To be honest the first third of the book was a little slow for me, but I’m sincerely glad I kept reading because this slow burn romance continued to build and build and the end result was spectacular. The friends to even better friends to best friends to eventually lovers romance was a study in paying attention to people. It was about learning likes, dislikes, emotions, body language, facial expressions, and so much more about the person that you are interested in getting to know better.
To be honest the first third of the book was a little slow for me, but I’m sincerely glad I kept reading because this slow burn romance continued to build and build and the end result was spectacular. The friends to even better friends to best friends to eventually lovers romance was a study in paying attention to people. It was about learning likes, dislikes, emotions, body language, facial expressions, and so much more about the person that you are interested in getting to know better.
September 16, 2021
The title & synopsis doesn’t do it justice.
Like the author states I’m the afterword, this was a (mostly) lighthearted, falling-in-love, light-on-drama, romance. The story telling was good, very few errors you find in more than a few books, and the characters were truly enjoyable (if not a bit blind.) I truly wish The One-Toothed Shark bar was real, because I would , honestly, be willing to move across the country to have a weekly bar night there! This story will make you fall in love with the bar, the people who visit it, and will have you embracing what home really means.
Like the author states I’m the afterword, this was a (mostly) lighthearted, falling-in-love, light-on-drama, romance. The story telling was good, very few errors you find in more than a few books, and the characters were truly enjoyable (if not a bit blind.) I truly wish The One-Toothed Shark bar was real, because I would , honestly, be willing to move across the country to have a weekly bar night there! This story will make you fall in love with the bar, the people who visit it, and will have you embracing what home really means.
September 24, 2021
Overcoming obstacles
Beautifully written journey of Hayls and Cassie. Hayley is an amazing soul, full of love, who is trying to do the right thing with her family’s legacy and making sure her younger sister finishes college. Cass views life through cynical eyes having been dumped by her ex. The secondary characters were strong, relatable, and important players in Hayley and Cassie’s movement towards each other. A very good read. I heartily recommend this and any other works by this author. Thank you Peace
Beautifully written journey of Hayls and Cassie. Hayley is an amazing soul, full of love, who is trying to do the right thing with her family’s legacy and making sure her younger sister finishes college. Cass views life through cynical eyes having been dumped by her ex. The secondary characters were strong, relatable, and important players in Hayley and Cassie’s movement towards each other. A very good read. I heartily recommend this and any other works by this author. Thank you Peace
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September 27, 2021Great Character Development
It was a little hard for me to first really get into the story line and how it was written but I really liked the character development so I kept reading and I'm glad I did. I absolutely fell in love with the story and the characters especially Hayley. I wish that the story would have continued more to see how the relationship blossomed after and if they were able to save The Shark. I'd love a follow up book to continue following this love story :)
It was a little hard for me to first really get into the story line and how it was written but I really liked the character development so I kept reading and I'm glad I did. I absolutely fell in love with the story and the characters especially Hayley. I wish that the story would have continued more to see how the relationship blossomed after and if they were able to save The Shark. I'd love a follow up book to continue following this love story :)
May 27, 2023
A good best friends to lovers book. And a slow burn aswell.
the whole book talks abt the shark quite often and i swear thats one of the only plot lines, i wanted the book to stop talking abt the shark a little, like conversations between hayley and cass were filled with shark this shark that.
I loved their chemistry together, also cass was doing so much from one poster to a mural to basically being involved in the planning for the survival of the bar.
The side characters were also interesting and funny to read abt.
4 stars.
the whole book talks abt the shark quite often and i swear thats one of the only plot lines, i wanted the book to stop talking abt the shark a little, like conversations between hayley and cass were filled with shark this shark that.
I loved their chemistry together, also cass was doing so much from one poster to a mural to basically being involved in the planning for the survival of the bar.
The side characters were also interesting and funny to read abt.
4 stars.
August 19, 2021
I am generally annoyed when the source of angst is a lack of communication, but for some reason this book worked for me. I really enjoyed it. It was just on the edge of this is too long to spend not talking to each other. If that's a problem for you, you may not enjoy this book. I think it's because I was actually interested in the characters lives & not solely in are they going to figure out their love life.
September 21, 2021
Terrific love story
Closed in Cass, falling in love with outgoing, charismatic Haley, and Haley ailing in love with artistic, Cassie and both too shy to let the other know about their feelings. Both thinking that it was a growing friendship, neither wanting to lose this friendship was frustrating. Each thinking they were not worthy of the other's love, wanting to bat them both on the back of the head, and say SPEAK UP!!
Closed in Cass, falling in love with outgoing, charismatic Haley, and Haley ailing in love with artistic, Cassie and both too shy to let the other know about their feelings. Both thinking that it was a growing friendship, neither wanting to lose this friendship was frustrating. Each thinking they were not worthy of the other's love, wanting to bat them both on the back of the head, and say SPEAK UP!!
October 23, 2021
Quite enjoyed this book! I think this was my first book by Adrienne Marsh and its fair to I was not disappointed. While Cass was a little more hard to love, Hayley was just Hayley and makes you fall in love with her immediately. And I think thats exactly what the author was going for. Another thing to note is that this is definitely a slow burn and full of angst, which I love!
If you do pick up this book, as always, I hope you enjoy it!
Happy reading! :)
If you do pick up this book, as always, I hope you enjoy it!
Happy reading! :)
February 26, 2022
Two clueless women not looking for love
Take one job obsessed woman and one friendly bar owner, throw in lots of hints and all their friends and relatives realise they're in love but neither one of them has a clue. Throw in a few interesting plot twists and you feel like shouting to the characters look behind you... Throw in the bar owner trying to set up the workaholic. This a really fun but frustrating novel
Take one job obsessed woman and one friendly bar owner, throw in lots of hints and all their friends and relatives realise they're in love but neither one of them has a clue. Throw in a few interesting plot twists and you feel like shouting to the characters look behind you... Throw in the bar owner trying to set up the workaholic. This a really fun but frustrating novel
July 24, 2021
Honestly Great
Her first book was great but Adrienne Marsh really blew me out of the water with this next one. When I read wlw romance, this is the type of story that Im always hoping for. I had a smile through the whole book. She was able to create some angst but didn’t allow it to take anything away from these two women. I can’t wait for more from here!
Her first book was great but Adrienne Marsh really blew me out of the water with this next one. When I read wlw romance, this is the type of story that Im always hoping for. I had a smile through the whole book. She was able to create some angst but didn’t allow it to take anything away from these two women. I can’t wait for more from here!
August 7, 2021
Beautiful Tension
God the tension throughout this book is just so goddamn delicious, and the payoff feels perfect. The will they won't they never feels aggravating, the characters are built up in a way that makes it pretty easy to understand why they're dancing around their attraction. Incredibly fun read!
God the tension throughout this book is just so goddamn delicious, and the payoff feels perfect. The will they won't they never feels aggravating, the characters are built up in a way that makes it pretty easy to understand why they're dancing around their attraction. Incredibly fun read!
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