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"Charlotte, look at nored the request "I was an only child, too," she told him, "like Carrie" She wanted to explain "There were never outings that included aunts and uncles or cousins This is a new experience for Carrie and ain, his voice low and coth of him, up his chest, over the width of his shoulders, to his eyes She stared into them and felt a sudden sense of connection It was a powerful sensation, powerful and exciting

"Where’s Carrie?" Jason asked, glancing over his shoulder

"She’s on the phone in her roo to kiss you"

Charlotte’s heart tripped into double ti that would put an end to the craziness that overcame her with Jason, but she didn’t trust her voice, let alone her heart

Whatever she ht’ve said was never athered her in his arms, and lowered hisher of sunshine The kiss was chaste, yet curiously sensual

Of her own accord she deepened their kiss Jason responded quickly

Hethose soft sounds Sheinstinctively, naturally, to his

"Charlotte" He brought her even closer, and their kiss went on and on She grew hot, and hotter, then hotter still…until…

"No"Please…nohis eyes "You’re right," he murmured "Carrie’s in the other roorateful for the excuse

Jason drew in several deep breaths, then said, "I should be leaving"

Charlotte nodded, but she didn’t want hio Her body was on fire She wondered if he was experiencing the sary with her for sending hiain next Saturday?" The question was offhanded, as though he’d just thought of it

Charlotte’s heart soared at the prospect "If you’re sure you wantwith the fire that was already there "Trust me, Charlotte, I want you"

With that, he was out the door

No sooner had Jason left than Carrie appeared in the kitchen "Did Jason leave?"

Charlotte nodded, too preoccupied to answer outright She was tre, and all because of a feords He wanted her He’d been honest and forthright as she’d come to expect

"Mom, we need to talk"

"Go ahead," Charlotte said, as she unloaded the picnic basket There was surprisingly little food left over Ryan and Ronnie had discovered her chocolate chip cookies, thanks to Jason, and the three dozen she’d brought had disappeared in no time She’d set out the fresh fruit-and-cheese platter and that had disappeared, too There were a couple of sandwiches still wrapped, but they’d keep for her and Carrie to eat the following day

"It’s about the ninth-grade dance," Carrie said stiffly from behind her

Charlotte froze This wasn’t a subject she wanted to discuss, not again "I’ve said everything I’ to say about it, Carrie The subject is closed"

"I hope you realize you’re ruiningyou off at the dance and picking you up myself is a reasonable co I’d…rather walk to school naked than have you drive le boy in the entire class anted to be seen with hed "I’ll be happy to pick up Brad, too, if that’ll help" That was more than she was really in favor of, but she supposed she could live with it

"Then everyone will think I asked Brad to the dance I irls do that, but it’s iirl find out that Brad asked me How can you do this, Mom? Can’t you see how ined to melt any , Carrie, and that’s the end of it"

"You don’t understand what you’re doing to me!" Carried wailed

"The subject is closed"

"Fine, ruin my life See if I care" She stalked out of the kitchen, aro This argu old She’d been under the ihter had accepted her decision But noas apparent Carrie had only been regrouping, altering her tactics Cool reason had evolved into ih Charlotte had done untold psychological dao on an actual date Well, so be it, Charlotte decided This issue was one she didn’t intend to back down on anyout a kitchen chair, Charlotte sank tiredly into it, resting her face in her hands She sighed again She had trouble enough raising one child; she was insane to even conte another