Page 2 (2/2)

Dusty leans back in the seat and asks, "So, what’s your hto trade theht now I’m so nervous I feel so sick, but I refuse to leave I have to do this I have to have a norht If I can do that, I can get on with o home That’s what my friends do I can do that I can The bear raises his head and givesto answer Dusty lightly touches the back of er in a circle and says, "It’s okay if you’re undecided I was just starting with the basics"

Don’t yank your hand away My heart pounds harder My ribs are going to crack I find le nervously "I’lish aze into my eyes, but whenever I look at him, the pit of my stomach turns to ice God, I’uy

I forcemy head on a rock "So, do you want to start a business?"

"Soe one of my dad’s stores I don’t really know yet After I finish this, I have to do graduate work, so it’s still a ‘ways off" He lifts his arh he knocked me in the back with a two-by-four When his arm settles over me, it’s even worse Damn it Why can’t I sit here? Why does every touch have tobetter, I swear to God I a like this? That little voice in the back of my head is a total bitch She’s in cahoots with the bear

Brent nods, and continues talking to Millie about a class they had earlier today Millie laughs

Dusty rubs his fingers on the edge ofmy bare skin The dress is sleeveless Suddenly, I’m somewhere else, lost in a memory I feel ether I stiffen more "Relax I won’t bite And Brent can vouch foris around a two No worries there, Sidney" Brent smirks at me His eyes slip over his friend’s arm around my shoulders "Me, on the other hand--"

Millie slaps his chest and laughs, "You’re perfect I wouldn’t change a thing" She leans in and kisses him My face flushes and I look away Mistake When I do it, Dusty is watching Our eyes lock, but it’s not a good feeling It evokes everything I want to forget

The waiter saves h to order We share an appetizer Dusty talks more about his family and home He pops a piece of shrimp into hisdown here?" Soap between us We’re shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip There’s no way to scoot away frole and I’ll fall on the floor

When he mentions h question, so I try to sound noro to college? And this school’s great" I’m distracted I lie My stupid family doesn’t even knohere I am

Dusty leans in close to lance at hiht" My eyes instantly avert their gaze Even though I’ at him, I can feel Dusty’s eyes on my skin The hairs on the back of my neck prickle He leans in toward me and places his hand on my knee, slowly Very slowly I won’t react I can do this I can It’s a normal touch

It’s normal I want to be nor My pulse is pounding like soway His hand slips under the heh--skin to skin--and squeezes He grabs me and my world shifts I’ et

Myout ofall the silverware It makes a loud noise I hold out my hands, ready to make up some excuse, when I whirl around and slah over his head When I slap into him, the tray topples to the side Every entrée slips to the side in slow motion, and slides off the side of the tray There’s a loud crash when the plates hit the floor

For a second, I stand there paralyzed Dusty gives me a what the hell look Millie and Brent follow suit I feel their stares and can’t explain They don’t know My les open, but I don’t knohat to say

I bolt Before the night can get any worse, before I can er an ass out of myself, I leave I walk swiftly toward the exit, ready to screa with me? I wanted this I’es flash through h the ht air hitsme None of them want me to come back I inhale deeply The last half an hour has been an emotional rollercoaster First, I hue inwardly I’le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>