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Assuray across my abdomen and the upper curves of my breasts, I couldn’t think what to say beyond, "Oh"

He balled his hands into fists, set one underainst his, he kissed ainst the door towhat his body wanted froroaned into edly "I have to go now, or I’"

This was the moment for h o Even ht of Landon, and a possible es should htened and cleared his throat Kissing my forehead and the tip of one

I gripped the doorfra the beanie over his tousled hair Every girl he passed glanced up Some turned and watched until he reached the stairwell door, before whipping their heads around to see where he’d come from I retreated into my room and left the email wasn’t from Landon, it was from Mom--and contained my parents’ itinerary for their ski trip to Colorado A ski trip that I’d not been invited to join A ski trip scheduled for the only mid-semester weekend I’d planned to spend at home--a holiday weekend, no less

Still, I had a difficult tier when I opened her email, for two reasons One, I was oddly disappointed that it wasn’t Landon’s nahly kissed by Lucas that I didn’t care about a holiday eleven days in the future, or how I’d be spending it

By Sunday evening, I was eating spoonfuls of peanut butter for dinner, watching He’s Just Not That Into You, and telling myself I was clearly no exception to anyone’s rule Landon still hadn’t emailed, and I hadn’t heard from Lucas, either

Erin was due back any er for her boisterous, colorful presence in our roo condied and I debated whether or not to pause the movie to check it I wasn’t in the mood for another ofic ("It was your year to go to Kennedy’s"), emotional blackmail ("Your father and I haven’t had a trip alone in twenty years"), and one grudging invitation to join theet you a ticket But you’d have to sleep on the sofa or a cot, because the roonored the first two and said No, thanks to the third

What next--an atte trip wouldn’t be out of the question--she’d used that before Last week, I’d bookmarked a pair of boots online that my private lesson pay and my allowance wouldn’t quite cover I paused the movie and clicked my inbox

Jackpot But not Molad you felt confident about the quiz Whenever you get a draft of your paper together, I’d be happy to look it over before you turn it in I’ve attached the worksheet for to If you have any questions, let me know

LM

I reread the e remotely flirtatious in it It could have come from a professor He didn’t account for why it had taken him all weekend to answer me, when he usually answered within a couple of hours, if not sooner He didn’t tease , or ask any non-econ related question I felt as though I’d iined every shred of familiarity we’d developed over the past couple of weeks

Landon,

Thank you I’ll send the draft by SaturdayI hope you had an enjoyable weekend

JW

Jacqueline,

Getting it to et it back to you quickly so you can get it in to Dr H before the break My weekend was good Especially Friday Hoas yours?

LM

Landon,

Good A bit lonely (ot ho to tell ain for all your help

JW

Chapter 9

Once again, Lucas was approached by a girl at the end of class What the hell? Did every girl in our class feel a need to converse with hi around her shoulder Alarmed, I realized what uy I barely knehoed more saliva than sentences

As I passed the last aisle, Lucas gave ht lift of his chin and shifted his attention back to the couple in front of him Conflicted, I was equal parts relieved and disappointed

I asked Erin’s advice over lunch

"He’s holding his cards da her typical Jamba Juice lunch, she mulled over possible causes for his reserve "It’s alet et standoffish--but usually not until they’ve closed the deal" She gaveh and clunked ot that part where we had wild sex all night Friday"

She rolled her eyes, and then her brows rose "Hey What if he has a girlfriend?"

I frowned I hadn’t considered that "I guess that’s possible"