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Six watches h narrowed eyes She jams the fuel pump back into its ho at each other from opposite sides of the car

"We should talk," I say

"Sarah made you come over here, didn’t she?"

"Look, I know you don’t really like her--"

"That’s just it, John," she interrupts "I do like Sarah And she loves you"

I stare at Six, trying to sort this out "All right, I get that you’resince going to Chicago With Sarah around it just seemedweird"

"John, I’m not irlfriend I thought I liked you, John You know, as ot dumped in that cell with Sarah and saw the way she talked about you And now every day I see the two of you together Whatever was between us back ere on the run, it’s not like what you and Sarah have Watching the two of you is alh toin love once"

I nod, agreeing with Six What she’s saying is definitely true, but how aht, I totally like Sarah better than you? It’s probably better if I just keep uess," Six continues, "I feel shitty for kissing you while you were supposed to be with Sarah"

"In our defense," I say, "we did think she’d sold us out to the govern other Garde Once that exciteo back to Sarah, huh?"

"It wasn’t like that at all, Six I wasn’t thinking ahead, or biding my time, or whatever" Myhands so we could be invisible "When ere together, I’m not sure I’d ever felt so comfortable with another person before Like I could just be myself"

For a moment, Six’s hard voice turns almost wistful "Yeah, ently "I love her I’m more sure of that now than ever before"

Six claps her hands as if the et about it You and I are just friends, and you and Sarah are the happy couple I’le crap makes me want to barf"

"Six," I start, not really sure what to say It al to pushot into your business with Sarah Whether or not you want to tell her about us kissing is your thing I don’t care I just" She glances over to the gas station, where Sarah is finally eot tossed in that cell with her, the way she talked about you--she’s given up soher life on you Maybe I’ nosy and it isn’t my place, but I just want toto be," I say to Six, and turn to watch Sarah approach What Six said rings true I know Sarah has given up a norer I love her, but I haven’t figured out how to strike the right balance between keeping her safe and letting her be involved in ht now, it’s enough that she’s here with et back into the car Sarah stops in front ofcool?"

I have the sudden urge to wrap her in a hug, so I do She makes a surprised little noise and I kiss her on the cheek She squeezes ’s cool," I say

I take over driving e leave the gas station BK crawls into Sarah’s lap and paws at theuntil she rolls it down The car floods with cool spring air BK hangs his head out the , his beagle tongue lolling out of his ood to have the wind hitting your face as you cruise down a highway

The fresh air feels pretty good towill ever be squared away between Six and me, but I feel better after our talk At least I knohere I stand now The ing between the three of us I relax a little, leaning back inthe"Too fast"

I suiltily and slon Sarah has her arm out the , her hand flat as she lets it surf across the currents of wind Her blond hair is blown about her face wildly She looks beautiful For a moment, I pretend that it’s just the two of us and we’re on a road trip to someplace fun and normal I still believe that could happen for us one day If I didn’t, there’d be no reason to keep fighting

Sarah meets my eyes and I swear she

"I knoe’re on a seriousa regular road trip, like noro?"

"H it over My fantasy with Sarah and h just to be in a car with her "So many options"

Before I can decide, Six leans forward froet to seeand fighting, but Spain looked pretty interesting"

Sarah grins "I’ve alanted to go to Europe My parents backpacked there after college It’s how they met"

"So Europe is your answer too?" I ask Sarah

"Yeah," she replies "There are still places I’d like to see in Aovernh"

"That is a drawback," I agree, chuckling

Sarah turns around in her seat to look at Six "We could go to Europe together U your planet and all"

Sarah’s so enthusiastic that Six can’t help but smile back "That could be fun"

"That’s where I’d like to go," I tell Sarah, putting my hand over hers