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I sat through botany, taking notes inside the packet the prof had handed out at the start of the se to beat the crush out the door

I trucked it to the Java Hut Norh ti for a jolt of caffeine I stepped into line A pair of girls decked out in sorority regalia-- sweatshirts and velour pants--chattered noisily about their weekend plans in front of me

My phone vibrated in e Car, I texted back

Me: What will u do 4 me?

Emerson: Make u so hot u will have 2 beat hottie bartender off w/stick

I laughed lightly under my breath and typed back

Me: Why does that scare me???

Eet what u want

Me: Not true

Emerson: So true

"Hey, Pepper!" The words kissed ust of breath

I whirled around, and et of all my pent-up desires My heart seized inside my chest

"Hey, Hunter" Was that breathless squeakhied to look artfully messy The soft brown eyes The di A war back, he nodded atfunny?"

I shoved my phone into my pocket "No Just a text froh erly, and then felt my face ith embarrassment With him, it was always this way Aard Uncomfortable At least I was always this way He was only ever co, and coirl in awe of him, despite how nice he was to me

He stared at me for auished blink Apparently I could only speak in choppy fragether Narrowing downI get in soushed

He gestured fornow

He shrugged "Cora hed and I followed suit, sure he was joking Hunter had been valedictorian of his graduating class There was no doubt in my mind that he would end up at whatever medical school he wanted to attend

"I talked to Lila yesterday"

"Yeah They’re rehearsing hard for their holiday production already"

Words swelled inside my throat and, unbelievably, soe broke up"

"Yeah," he said slowly, rubbing at the back of his neck It was maybe the first tiretted saying anything

"Can I help you?" the cashier cut in My attention snapped to the girl behind the counter I stepped up and placedto Hunter next "What about you?"

I waved a hand "Oh, no, we’re not together"

"No, I got it, Pepper," he said, reaching for his wallet "I’ll have your house roast, medium"

"Thanks," I murmured as we moved over to wait for our drinks Hunter motioned to a couple of plush chairs "Want to sit down?"

"Sure" I nodded and sank into an ar around me and to the floor

"Sothe news"

I shook my head "I’ You’re like family Of course Lila would tell you" His lips twisted "And everyone else in the northern hemisphere"

Family Fabulous He saw me as another sister They called our drinks and he rose ahead ofwith the three drinks

"Guess you can’t stay long," he coet cold"

"I ordered it extra hot and it has a stopper in it It will be fine" And Eladly sacrifice a hot drink if it meant some one-on-one time for me with Hunter