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cabc210
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So what do I get when I beat everyone?" I said. " ?" Corey shook his head. "Do you need a wide-load sign for transporting that ego? Fine. Beat all of us and I'll kiss you." "Speaking of egos..." "Beat us and we'll install more holds over there." Daniel pointed to a tougher and higher section of the rock face ten feet down, then looked at me. "How's that?" I smiled. "Game on."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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faa1fef
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You really think I'd let you go to school without me? I'd show up tomorrow and hear that I got pinned running from a cougar, only to be saved by you rushing in and staring him down." "Um, yeah, that's pretty much how I remember it." "Exactly why I'm going. To get version out first."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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032d1b3
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So what do I get when I beat everyone?" I said. " ?" Corey shook his head. "Do you need a wide-load sign for transporting that ego?"
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Kelley Armstrong |
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debf43c
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It can't be easy living out here. Two hundred people..." She shook her head. "It must be so isolating." "It is." Corey turned to Daniel. "If there were more kids here, I wouldn't need to hang out with you. And we wouldn't need to hang out with girls. Even if they are hot girls, and, well, being such a small town, there's not a lot of competition for dates, so they're stuck with us and--" He looked at Mina. "I like isolated."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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3ad5b47
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So what do I get when I beat everyone?" I said. " ?" Corey shook his head. "Do you need a wide-load sign for transporting that ego? Fine. Beat all of us and I'll kiss you." "Speaking of egos..."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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342921a
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Uh, Maya?" Corey called. "You said she was dangerous, so can we leave the kitty alone now?" "Something's bothering her." Daniel walked over. "Is she hurt?" "I don't think so. Just...upset. Anxious." "Um, yeah," Corey said. "Because there are a bunch of teenagers and a very big dog blocking her way down." --
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Kelley Armstrong |
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73d601e
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Watch out for Rafe," Corey said. "I saw him in the smoking pit." "Phony," I muttered. "She thinks he's not a real smoker," Daniel explained. "He's not. Half the time he doesn't light his cigarette. The other half he takes a couple of puffs and puts it out. It's part of the bad boy package." Corey grinned. "Been paying attention, have you?" "Maya pays attention," Daniel said. "She notices everything and has an opinion on it, which she's no..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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cfe822c
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Maya pays attention," Daniel said. "She notices everything and has an opinion on it, which she's not afraid to share as frequently and as loudly as possible." Corey laughed. "Watch it," I said as I walked away, "or I'll share my on what happened last night."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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0e37a8d
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When we turned the corner, he veered so that his hand brushed mine, and I jerked away. "You really don't like me, do you?" he said. "I don't know you well enough to say that." "Easily fixed. What are you doing after school?" I shook my head as I stopped at my locker. He leaned against the one beside it. I started my combination. "I suspect I could spend every evening this week with you and I wouldn't know you any better than I do right now...
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Kelley Armstrong |
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bef37ee
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I suspect I could spend every evening this week with you and I wouldn't know you any better than I do right now." "Sure you would. Anything you want to know, I'll tell you." "That's the key word, isn't it? What I to know. Not necessarily the truth." His lips twitched with what looked like genuine amusement. "Are you calling me a poseur? I should be offended."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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6235743
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Are you calling me a poseur? I should be offended." "You could prove me wrong." I stuffed my bag in, took out my binder, then gestured at the cigarette in his hand. "Smoke that." "In here? I think that's against the rules." "Which shouldn't bother you at all, if you're the rebel you pretend to be."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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4a84212
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As I started along the path, I noticed a young, dark-haired woman. But not Mina Lee. This one was taller than me, with long black hair that curled over her faded denim jacket. Native or Latina. She was watching me and making no effort to hide it. Mina Lee's partner? If so, she needed lessons in subtlety even more than Mina did.
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Kelley Armstrong |
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1d36bdb
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When I headed her way, she started grinning and rocking on her toes, like she was fighting an urge to run toward me. She looked about nineteen, but her grin belonged on the face of a five-year-old. She was bouncing like a five-year-old, too. When I got a better look at her face--high cheekbones, sharp nose and chin, and slightly slanted amber eyes--I realized this had to be Rafe's older sister. I'd never seen her before. Few people in town ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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55f84ca
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Maya!" A warm hand grabbed my chin. "Come on, Maya." I gasped and blinked. I was sitting on the floor. In Daniel's lap. I bolted to my feet so fast, I elbowed him in the stomach. "Thanks," he wheezed. "Next time I'll let you hit the floor." "What happened?" "You fainted." The corners of his mouth twitched. "I believe is the correct term. It's not nearly as romantic as it sounds, you know. More like a deadweight collapse. With drool." ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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500bf8f
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But you can now consider yourself officially invited by the birthday girl. It's an easier way to meet people than hanging out at the smoking pit. Healthier, too." That got a smile from him. Not that lazy grin I'd seen so often, but something as different from his usual self as that ice-cold anger I'd seen him show to Sam and, later, to me. A crooked smile. Hesitant. Not quite shy, but close enough to do more to my insides than that sexy one..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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6ba4458
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You look beautiful," he said. "You're parentally obligated to say that." "True."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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12109e0
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You look beautiful," he said. "You're parentally obligated to say that." "True." I made a face at him, then adjusted my seat belt, and said, "Carry on, Jeeves." "Jeeves is a valet, not a chauffeur." "We can't afford both, so you're stuck with double duty." He stopped in front of the house. The windows were dark. "Oh, please," I said. "Not the surprise party thing again." "Better work on your surprised face." I opened the door. "No final wor..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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7a49a72
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I can't believe you still do stuff like this. Are you ever going to grow up?" "I still do it," Corey said. "Because you're a guy. Girls don't climb walls. Not real girls, anyway. Just tomboys whose closets are filled with tank tops and jeans and sneakers. Who still consider braids and ponytails high fashion. Who wouldn't know how to apply makeup on a dare." "Knock it off, Hayley," Daniel said. I was wearing makeup. Just not a lot. I had my ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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8c5f716
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Am I the only one around here who thinks Maya has a hidden Y chromosome?" Hayley said. "If she does, she's hiding it pretty good," Corey said, giving me a lascivious once-over."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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59eae68
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First, we need to see if this girl is as good a climber as she thinks she is. Challenge time. A race to the top. Maya versus anyone who dares take her on." "That'll be a short list," I said. Corey grinned. "Not when they hear the prize." He turned to the others. "Anyone who beats our Sweet Sixteen gets to kiss her. The lineup forms behind me." Brendan got behind him. Daniel grinned at me and joined. The other guys filed in. "Oh my God," I s..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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55f9566
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So, what are you doing after school?" he asked. "You don't give up, do you?" "Nope, so you might as well surrender now." "And that's exactly what make you back off, isn't it?" He arched his brows, as if he had no idea what I was talking about. "You like the chase," I said. "But once you get a girl, you back off before you can collect the prize. Kind of missing the point, I think." "Huh. You're right. Tell you what, go out with me and you ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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16cbe8a
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So, what are you doing after school?" he asked. "You don't give up, do you?" "Nope, so you might as well surrender now."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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a5ae507
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So, what are you doing after school?" he asked. "You don't give up, do you?" "Nope, so you might as well surrender now." "And that's exactly what make you back off, isn't it?" He arched his brows, as if he had no idea what I was talking about. "You like the chase," I said. "But once you get a girl, you back off before you can collect the prize. Kind of missing the point, I think."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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5b3568f
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What's up, Sam?" "I saw you guys talking to a woman in the parking lot. Nicole said she's a reporter, asking questions about us. How we all got here, if any of us weren't born here. Nic says she's really interested in the ones that weren't. You, me, Rafe..." "Probably hoping we'll be less attached to the town and more likely to spill secrets. Why? Do you have outstanding assault warrants somewhere?" "Ha-ha." Actually, it wouldn't surprise m..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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01bba79
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As I passed Mrs. Morris, I motioned that I was going out to use the washroom. I'm sure she knew better, but she just smiled and waved me on. We aren't a school with a truancy problem. Let's be honest: Where would you go if you skipped class? No mall. No coffee shop. No hangout where the person running the place hasn't known you from childhood...and knows you should be in class.
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Kelley Armstrong |
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baf6900
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The school is on the edge of town. Hell, most of the is on the edge of town--you can't walk far in any direction without ending up in the forest.
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Kelley Armstrong |
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ef4bb68
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We have to go, Annie. Say good-bye to Maya." "She doesn't need to--" I began. "Yes, she does." He led Annie off before I could argue. I glowered at his retreating back. Was he embarrassed by Annie? All the hairstyling in the world wouldn't make him a decent brother if he forced her to stay locked in a cabin all day. Maybe that was how he'd been raised, but the next time he came sniffing around, we were definitely having a chat about this. A..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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5213d4f
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He called after me, "How old am I, Maya?" I turned. "How the hell should I know? Whatever you've told the school, I'm sure it's a lie anyway." "I'm sixteen, just like you. Or like you will be tomorrow, from what I heard. My birthday was last month." "Congratulations." I started walking again. "I'll send you a card next year, if you hang around that long, which I doubt."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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2b13f1a
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He called after me, "How old am I, Maya?" I turned. "How the hell should I know? Whatever you've told the school, I'm sure it's a lie anyway."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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92054fd
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He called after me, "How old am I, Maya?" I turned. "How the hell should I know? Whatever you've told the school, I'm sure it's a lie anyway." "I'm sixteen, just like you. Or like you will be tomorrow, from what I heard. My birthday was last month." "Congratulations." I started walking again. "I'll send you a card next year, if you hang around that long, which I doubt." "You don't need to doubt it. I'll be leaving for sure if you tell anyon..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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2a0edbf
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Our mom died last year when Annie was eighteen. Before the accident. So she got custody of me." "Accident? It's brain damage?" The look in Rafe's eyes, the grief...It hurt just to see it, and he turned away fast, mumbling, "Yeah. It's brain damage. Point is that if anyone finds out, I'm off to a foster home and she's off to an institution. Which neither of us wants." I stepped toward him. "I'm sorry. I just..." "
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Kelley Armstrong |
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1c00e71
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Fitz was on his best behavior with Daniel, though. He usually is. He can sense Daniel likes animals. That's how we met. A week after we moved in, Daniel brought us an injured squirrel. The old warden had taken in wounded animals, and Daniel had figured that was part of the job. As for what a five-year-old was doing riding his bike deep into a predator-laced forest, well, that says something about the level of parental care in the Bianchi ho..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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ed7ad10
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They're after all of us," Daniel said. "I think so." "I don't get it." "Maya?" I wanted to throw my arms around his neck and apologize. He hugged me and whispered, "It's okay. We'll figure it out." I pulled away. "I...I think I might have figured it out already. This isn't the time to explain but...I think Sam might be right about you and her, and I think there's more to it, and that's why they're after us, so you need to be careful." "We'l..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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cf1f921
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Then I asked, "Are you coming to the party tomorrow?" because it was, at the moment, the only change of subject I could come up with. "Daniel's party?" Rafe looked confused, as if he couldn't imagine why I'd think he was going to the party of a guy who obviously didn't like him. "Well, it's at Daniel's place, but it's really--" "Your birthday party. I know." He kept giving me that look, and I didn't blame him--I was as unlikely to invite hi..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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9d11955
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Then I asked, "Are you coming to the party tomorrow?" because it was, at the moment, the only change of subject I could come up with. "Daniel's party?" Rafe looked confused, as if he couldn't imagine why I'd think he was going to the party of a guy who obviously didn't like him. "Well, it's at Daniel's place, but it's really--" "Your birthday party. I know." He kept giving me that look, and I didn't blame him--I was as unlikely to invite hi..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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1567a92
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Everyone goes," I said. "The whole class." "Yeah, I know. Hayley asked if I was going, but I kind of figured that didn't exactly count as an invitation. Unless I went with her, which I'd really rather not." I had to laugh at his expression. "Don't blame you. But you can now consider yourself officially invited by the birthday girl. It's an easier way to meet people than hanging out at the smoking pit. Healthier, too."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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ef0f08e
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Carry on, Jeeves." "Jeeves is a valet, not a chauffeur." "We can't afford both, so you're stuck with double duty."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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d68b756
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Not the surprise party thing again." "Better work on your surprised face." I opened the door. "No final words of warning?" "I trust you." I sighed. "That'll be my epitaph someday. So trustworthy. So honest. So boring."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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34d5a7c
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I can't believe you still do stuff like this. Are you ever going to grow up?" "I still do it," Corey said. "Because you're a guy. Girls don't climb walls. Not real girls, anyway. Just tomboys whose closets are filled with tank tops and jeans and sneakers. Who still consider braids and ponytails high fashion. Who wouldn't know how to apply makeup on a dare." "Knock it off, Hayley," Daniel said. I was wearing makeup. Just not a lot. I had my ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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2f4a2ea
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Yes, I had another wild encounter last night," I said as we walked toward the entrance. "Really?" "That's not what you wanted to talk to me about?" "No." "Damn." He only laughed and grabbed the door for me. We went through. He walked beside me, so close I could smell woodsmoke on his jacket. I thought of warning him that there was a ban on campfires with the dry weather, but that sounded snotty. I'm sure he knew. I'm sure he didn't care. I ..
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Kelley Armstrong |
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0be93fe
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Yes, I had another wild encounter last night," I said as we walked toward the entrance. "Really?" "That's not what you wanted to talk to me about?" "No." "Damn."
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Kelley Armstrong |
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11b52f6
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He walked beside me, so close I could smell woodsmoke on his jacket. I thought of warning him that there was a ban on campfires with the dry weather, but that sounded snotty. I'm sure he knew. I'm sure he didn't care.
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Kelley Armstrong |
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cbb1834
|
When we turned the corner, he veered so that his hand brushed mine, and I jerked away. "You really don't like me, do you?" he said. "I don't know you well enough to say that." "Easily fixed. What are you doing after school?"
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Kelley Armstrong |
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abd328e
|
You like the chase," I said. "But once you get a girl, you back off before you can collect the prize. Kind of missing the point, I think." "Huh. You're right. Tell you what, go out with me and you can show me how it's done." I'd walked right into that."
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Kelley Armstrong |