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"Daht end

because your ass is wound tighter than a baseball"

Now every tiuy

my first reaction is to brace e to seep out of his ht Henry was the last of his kind

I thought hot nice guys had gone extinct

Be still, my hormones

Ty is here to repopulate the species

the count? 19 days until alaba, I wake up a little earlier than usual Mike, Jake, and I run five hts before I hop in the shower When I shave s for the first time in a week, I actual y try to hit al the tricky spots--around the ankles, behind the knees It’s like when Mo sure each weed has been plucked froarden

I also mess around with the assorted lotions, body washes, and conditioners that Mom puts in h Al I’ve done since yesterday is think about hiine that--

h School, the worst tea about a guy al night long Yeah, I know I make myself sick too

Yet here I a to wear to school today I spend two er than usual, then I pick out a nice pair of jeans, and since I don’t have practice today, I try on a pushup bra andunderwear that have infiltrated my underwear drawer The lacy blue underwear barely covers anything and offers virtual y no support Moet a boyfriend

As uncoirly underwear on anyway Who knows? Provided they stay the hel out of ht make me feel sexier later on today

And instead of my usual ratty "Titans" and "Bel Buckle Moon Pie Ten-Mile Race" T-shirts, I pick out a plain black fitted tee I know, I know--I’m wild But seriously? Forup, and it shows off my boobs I don’t think too many people even realize I have boobs Not even Jake, the total horndog, knows I have a chest

I top off the outfit with flip-flops and chapstick Ty better appreciate how hard I’ve worked to , because I a spent

At lunchtime I head to the cafeteria, which always s, like those odors have seeped into the concrete wal s and tile floor I grab a slice of pizza, a salad, and a couple cartons of chocolate milk I know I’m seventeen and that those little milk cartons are for kids, but I love them

Today, I’m the first person to sit down at the footbal team’s table, and when I look up at the lunch line to see where the rest of the guys are, there he is Ty He stares atFrom across the cafeteria, he mouths the words, "Can I sit with you?"

I take a bite of pizza and point at the table He grins again Suddenly I seem to lose the ability to chew He drops his tray down and slides in beside me Our elbows touch "Hey, Woods"

I nod once "Ty"

I scan the cafeteria for the rest of the guys, hoping they’l be here soon JJ and Carter are talking to a tableful of fresh at JJ, but he doesn’t even notice because so to a girl with long brown hair, gazing at her as if she’s saying very i a play-by-play account of Super Bowl XXXVII In al actuality, she’s probably giving him a play-by-play account of some romance novel where some chick is in love with a boy who’s real y a olf, and a vas, and a handso over by the s talking to Carrie Myer He’s leaning against the glass and frowning at her Is Moether? Carrie says so, and they both turn and look at me She stares at

What’s that about? I wish I could read lips Then he drags a hand through his curls and focuses on the ceiling tiles Carrie wipes a tear off her face, turns, and walks toward the doors Her eyes are al puffy and red Henry fol ows her out into the hal way, frowning Even though she said she’s glad, maybe Carrie is actual y pissed that Marie went out with Henry yesterday, thus breaking the cardinal rule of cheerleading JJ once told uy dates one cheerleader, the rest of the cheerleaders wil never, ever date him because of squad loyalty Yeah, JJ didn’t understand it either It’s not like anyone is getting married But when it coard it and mess around with him anyway

Too much drama forof fooling around, Ty’s sitting so close I can sent wafts up to my nose

Ty leans over and whispers in my ear, "I don’t knohether to thank you or hate you for sending me home with Henry yesterday"

"Oh hel ," I say "What did he do?"

He stuffs a few French fries in his"First he takes us to this diner Those friends of his, Kristen and Marie, are al over us Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but Kristen doesn’t see between her ears"

I snort and chocolate milk comes out my nose Yeah, I know, I’rins atup my chocolate snot

"So we stay at the diner for a couple hours, talking about absolutely nothing And I oing on either Henry and Marieo out to his truck, and I’randfather’s probably worried sick about me But no, Henry doesn’t take me home He drives us way out into the country into this field It’s basical y a giant ?"

"Yup So we’re in the field, and Henry drives his truck around in circles at about eightyHe rol s down the s andal over the place, al inside the cab of the truck I’m covered in iant er, picks it up, and takes a bite With food in his mouth, he says,

"Pretty soon I’ clothes And then Kristen--" Ty suddenly grabs so pink