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"I’m sorry," I said quietly

Bella opened her ain, as if she hadn’t expected ht hear all sorts of shit aboutto worry about"

"I understand"

She clapped her hands "Moving on Now let’s talk about West 165th Street"

I opened es My brain was still trying to catch up hat she’d just said -- and what she hadn’t If Bella had walked into that house on fraternity row to deliver some very unpleasant news, she sure stayed there a while It was after seven in theout

With insults inked all over her body

What the hell happened during all that tiuy that kind of news

Bella misinterpreted my silence "I’m sure you’re clean"

"I wasn’t worried, Bella"

Her face showed very clearly that she didn’t believe me "Urban Studies," she clipped

"Yes ma’am" I took a seat in her desk chair, which was free of debris "I took good notes yesterday because he was talking about affordable housing So we have to decide whether ant to use a voucher system, or whatever"

"Okay" She twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers

I knew exactly how soft her hair was, and how it felt in my hands Her happy s that had happened to her, I wondered when I ain, and whether there was anything I could do to bring it back

Whatever it was, I would do it

"Vouchers are the siet fancy, we could do so with sweat equity Or even better -- a rent-to-own setup How complicated do you want to make this?"

"I’m not afraid of the work," I told her "I really need to win this thing"