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"Taylor" I say "I had a really good ti--" Before I can finish my sentence, her lips are meshed with mine She doesn’t seem like the type to uard She runs her hands through my hair and I’m suddenly faced with the realization that I don’t knohat to do with my own hands Do I touch her? Do I push her away? To be honest, the kiss isn’t half bad and I catchcomparisons but I can’t help it This kiss is rehn It’s not badpleasant even But there isn’t any e like what I felt when I kissed Lake

Lake

I prepare to pull myself away from her when she finally pulls back herself I’m relieved I didn’t have to be the one to push her away She takes a step back and covers her mouth in embarrassment "Wow," she says "I’h "It’s fine Really, Taylor It was nice"

I’; it was nice

"You’re just reallyI don’t know," she says, still ss

I rub the back of lance at her front door, then back at her How aaze to her front door, then back to me and smiles "Oh You uhYou want to cood Why did I look at the door? She thinks I want to come inside now Do I want to come inside? Shit I don’t want to co about Taylor at all if I went inside

"Taylor," I say "I need to be honest with you I think you’re great I had a great tio, I’d be inside that house with you in a heartbeat"

She can see where I’m headed, so she just nods "But" she says

"There’s soreed to this date because I was hoping that et over her, butit’s too soon"

She looks up at the sky and drops her arht you were feeling it, too, so I kissed you" She covers her face with her hands, e a step closer "No, don’t say that I know this is cliché and it’s the last thing you want to hear, butit’s not you, it’s reat and cute and I’ just really sucks That’s all"

She hugs herself with her ar," she says quietly, "will you keep ets better?"

"Yeah," I say "Definitely"

She nods, then looks up at me "Okay, then," she sh "To aard first dates," I say She waves and heads inside Once she’s inside her house, I sigh and head back to ain"

10

the honeymoon

"EXCUSE ME FOR a second," Lake says She pushes herself up and walks to the bathroom, then slams the door behind her

She’s mad? Seriously? Oh, hell no I jump up and try to open the bathroom door, but it’s locked fros it open and spins back around toward the shoithout looking at me She turns the shower knob until the water comes to life, then she slips off her shirt

"I just need a shower," she snaps

I lean against the doorfra happened I never went out with her again"

She shakes her head and closes the lid to the toilet, then takes a seat on top of it She slips off her socks one at a time and tosses them to the floor with a jerk of her wrist "I’ eye contact

"Lake?" She doesn’t look up at me "Lake? Look at me," I demand

She inhales a slow breath, then looks up at h her lashes, her o you made a promise to me," I say "Do you remember what that promise was?"

She rolls her eyes and stands up, unbuttoning her pants "Of course I reo"