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"That’s really cool," Liz said She would die for an in like that on the Hill She was one of the few staying behind for the summer

"Hold on" He pulled his phone out of his pocket "Hey, what’s up? Yeah, we’re just finishing up dinner" He ran his hand back through his longish mop of medium brown hair and listened "Okay Okay Yeah, I knohere that is We’ll be over soon Bye"

He hung up the phone "That was Calleigh"

"Oh yeah?" Liz asked

"She just got to the bar We can head out whenever you’re finished"

"All right" She had suddenly lost her appetite

She hated how anxious she was already getting about hanging around with Calleigh Liz had virtually idolized her for the past two years Hanging out with her felt a little surreal

"Hey, is everything all right?" Hayden asked, his head tilted slightly to the side as he looked at her

"Yeah, sorry," she said with a nervous laugh "Just zoned out, I guess What are you going to be doing in the press office?" she asked, returning to her dinner even though she wasn’t hungry

Hayden shrugged, still looking concerned "Probably nothing interesting Fetching coffee and doing research is all I anticipate I doubt they’ll letI bet your class will be oing on there No way could it be boring, even if the work is slow I’ll just be in North Carolina researching political co it"

Hayden kept his hazel eyes downcast She didn’t knohat thatWhat was he thinking underneath that s his eyes to meet hers

Liz sed and took a sip of the water "You really want me to?"

"Yes," he answered confidently "I need to see you this suered after his bold statement Hayden not just wanted, but needed, to see her She was blindsided by this new information She wasn’t sure if this was a date, and she had no confir to see her over the summer meant they were currently on a date

Okay, now she just felt stupid and overly analytical They couldn’t start anything noeek before he was supposed to leave for the entire su out a slow breath, she placed her fork back on the plate "Well, then I’ll visit," she said softly

Chapter 3

HITTING THE BIG TIME

Walking into La Luna Lounge, Liz and Hayden passed the bouncer and entered another world La Luna was as far froet She didn’t ood time, but not like this She preferred low-key bars where she could sit and enjoy the company of her friends Her best friend, Victoria, would have liked La Lunatunnel lit by dim blue bulbs that opened into an expansive open roohtly ree at the front, all red plush seating around the perimeter, and tiered balconies up above The center of the roo, and the walls were lined with liquor

Hayden scanned the rooroup of reporters Liz wasn’t short, but she wasn’t exactly tall either Froroup of girls gyrating in front of her The room was too dark for her to be able to pick anyone out of the crowd anyway

"I think they ht be over there," he told her uncertainly

"Maybe we should get a drink first?"

He nodded, and they angled for the bar There were three sht she needed to see above the crowd Hayden had been right; she could see Calleigh’s lush red hair fro her attention

"I guess just a whiskey sour"

Hayden ordered for both of theuy behind the bar quickly mixed the drinks, and Hayden handed over his card

"Keep it open," he told the guy, sliding Liz’s drink toward her

"Thanks," she said

She took a sip and tried not to wince as the alcohol hit her

Hayden laughed at her pained face "Not a big drinker?" he asked

She shrugged "I like drinking just fine, but I can’t seeet past the burn"

"You need to drink more, I think"

"You sound like my friend Victoria"

He smiled that smile that turned her insides to jelly "I’d like to meet her sometime"

Victoria would be happy toof the two of theet people to love her "You should She’s a character"

"I’et the chance"

Liz turned back toward the dance floor, not able tohe wouldwith her? She wanted him to, but she was so thrown that she didn’t even kno to respond

"You were right I spotted Calleigh," Liz told hi in the same direction he had mentioned earlier

"Great," he said, more enthusiastic than he had been before

She followed hi around the dancers Hayden reached back, and she slipped her hand into his A bolt of electricity shot up her ar the rabbed her hand, pulling her through the crowd, o