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I cleared ainst ot that settled"

"Me too," Jericho smiled mischievously at me, and I was bombarded with butterflies "And as friends, we should probably hang out Don’t you think? I mean, that’s what friends do"

I was about to object, but he flicked on the TV before I could ht talk show host was interviewing one ofwith the TV before I thought twice about leaving

Jericho seemed to relax a little more, if that was even possible, and lay back further in the couch, lifting his feet up and sprawling out I noticed his feet, long and boney, his arches were high for a guy and his toes in to understand what I found attractive about them, but for so

"Popcorn?" I blurted out, ju up before I could concentrate on his feet anymore

"Sure," he mumbled as I retreated into the kitchen

I breathed in deeply as I ru for the box of microwavable popcorn I was too frazzled to really look for it, so I foundthe refrigerator for no apparent reason

I stopped for a ranite of the kitchen island I had to get it together or retreat completely up to the safety of Aunt Syl’s bedrooic was pinpricks of excited energy and I closedfor the zen I kneas buried deep beneath my fir that I was I knew that feelings for Jericho did not s for Kiran were in jeopardy

It was just that my relationship with Kiran was in jeopardy and also difficult and also lonely For such intense feelings, we had seen so little of each other on an inti together, andeach other in our subconscious sleep state hardly counted as significant alone time

Jericho was easy A relationship with him would be easy He was laid back and didn’t have to worry about running an entire race of people at the brink of a civil war And on top of it all, he was a good guy, a really good guy, a guy that under normal circumstances would have been an obvious choice for me to fall for

That was it

That was all

I openedthat I would conquer this and enjoy the friendship with Jericho that I so desperately wanted

However, whenin the doorway to the kitchen just watching me Shirtless, tanned, ?" he wasn’t really s but his eyes were deeply a fine," I spun around and began opening the white cabinets again deter to focus "I just um, have to find it first and then, you knowfoolish and frustrated Where was the daood," Jericho, patronizedthe door and then pulling out a red box of microwavable popcorn

"There it is," I s it out of the plastic and sticking it inside theI ju ainst the island and watching the glowingaround and around

"So what’s the deal with Roxie and Avalon?" I asked, hoping to get to the botto suspicions

"Roxie and Avalon? What do you mean?" Jericho turned around to face ic not to react I hoped he didn’t notice the elevated level ed to, I pretended not to anyway

"You know, is there anything there? Like between theether in a childish way, indicating that I thought they were kissing I laughed out loud as I did it, not even able to hide hed too, "I don’t know Can’t you just do, like your weird twin thing, and figure it out for yourself?" he reached out to stop ers that had continued in an absent minded way His hand was only there for a nore

I clearedback on them "I ross invasion of Avalon’s privacy I have this rule about not digging deeper than what Avalon would just up front tell me There are some places that are just sacred You know?"

"That’s awfully cavalier of you Does Avalon give you the sarab the now frantically popping popcorn before it burnt

I burst into laughter at his question We both knew better "Yeah, right," I exclai popcorn "There is nothing sacred to Avalon Trust ht snack, but at least he agreed with h between them Avalon is pretty much married to the cause You and he are so different in that"