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His skin jumped at the contact No way to hide that flinch I heard the tiniest suck of air as he pulled in a gasp, but he didn‘t say anything Didn‘t tellback on it, Bob, I don‘t think he wanted me to Or maybe he was just too stunned

The scar was very sed, too, as my hand followed the trail of tissue over the hard shelves of his ribs David still didn‘t move or speak; I think he was as astonished--as hypnotized--as I The scar finally petered off over his left pec His heart was knocking so hard I felt the flutter against ertips

My head went a little airy I could see the sudden throb of his pulse in his neck His lips parted, and so spirited over his face, very fast He blinked and said, roughly, ―It doesn‘t hurt anymore‖

That broke the spell ―Oh,‖ I said, and exhaled a shaky little laugh I tookhis shirt back down around his waist Scarlet dashed over his cheeks ―IuhI still carry that broken saber around Want to see it?‖

―Sure,‖ I said, but he was already turning away and reaching down to unzip the large blue gyed I spotted at least five different swords ―How come you have so many?‖

―Because some weapons are for bouts and others for practice,‖ he said and then tugged out the broken saber ―Here‖

The bell guard was broad and bright silver and curved, like you see in a : just under a foot long and dull gray No real heft, either, or weight Maybe he read ht, but the tip, where it‘s broken? Here‖ He proffered the ruined weapon ―You don‘t want to be on the business end of that‖

He was right The saber‘s jagged ht about how easy it would be to draw blood Mind you, I wasn‘t te it back was easier than I thought it would be ―Why do you keep it?‖

He hunched a shoulder ―I don‘t know‖ He turned the broken weapon over in his hands ―I think, maybeto remind myself, you know, I could‘ve died Guys do, every once in a while‖

―So why keep fencing?‖

―Because the danger‘s half the fun‖ His eyes flicked up from the broken blade to touch on mine ―You could come watch practice soh to want to try it out yourself‖

I thought of Mr Anderson then, how he‘d pressed about the cross-country tea like a line? Had I ? Maybe

―Well‖ That scarlet splash on his cheeks deepened ―You‘ll never know if you‘re any good unless you try It ht be fun Do you do sports?‖

―I used to run‖ I paused ―Cross-country Like Danielle‖

―Oh‖ He gave me a careful look ―So how coht cleat me just for the hell of it? That was part of it, Bob, really But there was also so myself in front of Mr Anderson thatthat made my throat kind of fluttery If you knohat I ave just enough cover So he‘d never see theht want him to watch me; to stand there, stopwatch in hand, and be completely focused on onlyhow much I avoided him

―Just not into it this year,‖ I said

―Oh,‖ David said again There was aat his watch ―Look, uh, the library‘s going to close You want to get a coffee or so? We could call your mom I could take you to her store, if you want‖

It was so unexpected--so nice--I allanced over my shoulder tothere I wanted to say yes, but then I remembered Danielle‘s face from that first day and what she‘d said: The ain, just why the hell David was bothering Hadn‘t he just said he was having a crappy year fencing? That he wason, was how he‘d put it, and stuff had to equal Danielle So this wasn‘t, like, a date or anything Even someone like David must need someone to talk to So,

But soears endas Blame the psych ward for this one, Bob, and all those times therapists tell you that what you say is not what you mean

―That‘s really nice of you,‖ I said, ―but I should probably stay put My ht be on her way now, and if I‘m not around, she‘ll freak out‖ This all had the benefit of being true If David had stopped right there, things would‘ve been fine

But he didn‘t ―You shouldn‘t be alone,‖ David pressed ―You wantfor both of us? But I wasn‘t Ilsa Lund; he ay better-looking than Huart; and this wasn‘t Casablanca: it was Wisconsin ―That‘s okay‖

He was quiet a second ―Is it because of Danielle?‖

Bingo ―Kind of Did you guys, like, have a fight or sorin played over his lips, but his eyes were suddenly wary ―It‘s just coffee It‘s not like a date or anything‖