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"Give me five minutes to check on everyone," Cole whispered to me, "and then I want so down the seconds

He gavetable, and they each clasped pal each other in the shoulder It was like a secret handshake or soain"

"You’re still young enough to go on the prowl," I said, then immediately wished I could snatch back the words

She ser "Speaker’s reht enjoy looking, but I’ on her tiptoes, she kissed my cheek "I’oing on Have funbut not too much"

"Love you, Nana"

"Love you, too" She flittered away

I munched on a crab cake and watched as Cole went fro He epitoht in the worldinthat le spark of jealousy inside me Good Ali

"By the way, I want you to know I’ on to you, Ali Bell," Gavin said as he approached me "You’ve never looked atto think that’s a look I’d like to receive"

"Aw Thisup I’ll even help you out with rock-solid tip to get you started"

"And that is?"

"Give up your ho-bag ways"

Grinning, he bumped my shoulder with his own "Has anyone ever told you that you’re a brat?"

"I’m just certain Cole has mentioned it a tiiving ed his worked out?" he asked

I cupped his cheeks, and the action reminded me of the vision I looked at Cole, still with Veronica The tension he’d worn like a second skin had fallen away "I am But what about you?"

"Never better Veronica and I have decided to move here I don’t know her reasons, but mine are simple Alabama is an ocean of untapped, horny fish and daddy likes his seafood"

I laughed "I’aze returned to Cole He atching er He still trusted me, the same way I trusted him

He closed the distance between us

"I’m more certain by the second that the visions don’t always mean e think they do And now your fivemy hand "It’s ti it these days?" Gavin said with a laugh

We passed Mr Ankh, and then Mr Holland, and ?" Mr Holland demanded

"Ali’s old rooet you"

From the corner of my eye, I think I saw Cole flip off his dad

"Fine, fifteen ive therandain"

Nana had a temper?

The moment we entered my old room and shut the door, I turned to hi in the next instant, and it was electric, consureat I felt as if I became a part of him

"Ali," he said, when he finally ca the word love around, but before you, I never did And I’d never needed to hear it, either Then, the other night, you uttered those words to me, and it’s okay if you don’t remember, but I heard them, and it affected me, and noant to hear the words for real because I love you so ive thee step The one that would send me over the cliff

He tookmy palm on his skin, just over his heart, where the last part of my name was etched "You’re a part of me, and you’ll always be a part of ht, too"

"Cole"

He shook his head "Don’t say anything Not yet I want to get the rest of this out"

My eyes widened There was more?

"I think I’ve told you how stubborn you are, how curious and now, even jealous, and you’re also quick teht cross of all ti a little of etelse," he continued "I look at you, and I want you Actually, I have only to think about you to want you There’s a sweetness to you, a vulnerability you allow so few people to see, but I’rateful"

Oh

Who was I kidding? I’d already leaped off the cliff