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He said no But he paid for her room and meals at the Black Swan B&B

She caoodbye and tell him she’d pay him back for the stay at the inn Her face hite, her eyes too big and utterly terrified

He almost wanted to take her in his arht, that she could stay with hily hard not to say the words

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"SO HOW WAS the wedding, Officer Em?" Tamara asked as Emmaline walked into the base to talk about it," Eers

"Sucked that bad, did it?" Dalton said

"Pretty e, look! It’s the kids! The kids are here to see you!" She unclipped her wagging, crooning pup and watched with a sers, Squeaky Chicken firotten Sarge was for the kids Also, because she was single and liked having someone to come home to, and also because she was a cop and could(or not, because he definitely lacked the I’ four tough, bored, cynical potential dropouts tolerate her--her dog was perfect

"So Cory, you got suspended again, huh?" she said, setting down the box of cookies she’d picked up at Lorelei’s earlier that day

"He told Dr Didier that--"

"I already heard, Tamara Cory? You were already in trouble with Mrs Greenley Did you feel things getting to that snapping point?"

Cory shrugged He’d been suspended today after suggesting that the principal of Manningsport High was, in fact, asoly and just what evidence indicated Dr Didier’s ht in the trash--but he threw it hard Like a baseball The result was suspension

"I’ you did," Em said "And we all have thoseBut that’s not acceptable"

"Unless you’re an idiot," Ta the cookies

"Bite me," Cory said He took another cookie, put it in his teeth and let Sarge eat half of it, then chewed and sed the other half Boys were so gross Then again, Eht, so she was in no position to judge

"So, Cory, what about your suspension?" she asked, trying to refocus theet expelled," said Dalton

"You’re the one who stole a car," Cory said

"Yeah, but you’re set a scholarship and everything All I got is a life of cri, Dalton Cory, he does have a point You could But if you don’t find a way to cope with your temper, it’ll haunt you all your life"

"I know," Cory onna throw that thing through the , and at the last ress "Okay, so that was a step in the right direction You et a sticker," Kelsey Byrd said

E a deep, slow breath can help Eat right, get enough fresh air Those are clichés because they’re true Maybe you could join the boxing club"

"Or, like, listen to ested "When o into the cellar and play Nine Inch Nails really loud and, like, dance Badly, I ave a little sraduation, kids," Eraduation," said Kelsey "Like that makes a difference" She folded her arood reason to be bitter, Eeis, it does et a GED, chances are you’ll have to work longer and earn less And by longer, I er hours and more years You want a nice car? A decent place to live? A job you like? It’s going to be a lot easier if you stay in school"

"I wanna be on TV," Tamara said "Like Ellen" She took a cookie and bit into it

"Ellen graduated froh school, dumbass," Cory said "How many days have you missed?"

"None of your business"

"It’s e," Kelsey said "Come here, puppy" Her face softened beneath the harsh makeup

Out of these four kids, Em was pretty sure that Tamara, Cory and Dalton had a decent chance Cory’s parents were doing all the right things for his temper issues, and they adored the kid Taence; she was just a late blooo to a coure out what she wanted to do a year or three down the road Dalton was fro line of petty criood heart and charh, and was as cute as they caht do okay She could see hi, really

Kelsey, thoughKelsey would be hard-pressed to break out A baby on the way, her father dead, her mother one of Em’s frequent calls for DUI and possession They lived in a decrepit far in the s for curtains, and there was a large hole in the roof Kelsey was already heavily tattooed, seriously overweight and had those expander earrings and a pierced lip She enerosity of her teachers

The odds had never been in her favor

"Kelsey, as your week like?" E in a blast of cold air

"Who’s that?" The girl pulled her head back like an offended duck

It was Jack

Huh Euy who pulled Sam and Garrett and everyone out of lake Shit! Nice to meet you, man!" Dalton met Jack halfway and shook his hand "You’re, like, a hero or so went out in his eyes allanced at her "Sorry I’uys I’m Jack Holland Heard you need a cheeneral exhausted sinking

"Are you a teacher?" Ta him up and down