cted when Nathan texted her, bu

at my plac

rds that wrapped around her ribs and pulled, because it was so rare-

fore she could talk

g, after the girl on his lap, after she cried all the way home with mascara

idn't fe

elt

elt

ng off one shoulder. His curls were messy, his face freshly s

e said, soft

she nodded and slipped past h

ng trash over beers and playlists. The game was on mute, a soft background hum t

close, but

il her brain shut off. He was kind. He asked about school. Laughed when she was sarcastic. Reached f

-, she

ions. Lunches under that one crooked oak tree. The night he walked her home in the rain and gave her his hoodie even tho

e others left to r

tchen, standing too close, the kind

aid-and it wasn't

as r

asshole. But I mi

But the lump in her t

en know who I

. "I do now. I was blin

ng her cheek-light, tender, so

e show

foreheads nearly touched. She a

mo

the bathroom first," because she

pointed down

toward it o

ver ma

ian was alr

irt, sleeves rolled, no tie, watch catching the light like it had something to s

suddenly her

are you doing h

Meeting with Evelyn," he said, vo

ght?" she

ways ask this many question

im before she reali

u follo

"But somehow, you alwa

rward, slow a

shrank. The

but her voice didn't sound like con

the one who wa

ght, deliberate, maddening.

n between

doing this?"

ze like it cos

for a

her

resting at the s

dering how long I can pretend I'm

Her heart slammed

so close it blurred the line

rled into fist

uldn't

th.His thumb brushed along

zed hers. Not a kiss. Not yet. Ju

th

ad

grenade in a

back like she

't move. Di

end of the hallway. His

fuck is