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"Can I tell you so at her as I speak

"You can tell "

I know "I want New York I don’t want to go to Texas I uys?" How can I leave you?

"Don’t pretend to joke, Jay Not now And if you want New York, co you want We’ll make it work if that’s what you really want"

I do But can I have it?

She takes a few breaths and I know she’s working up to so Priscilla rolls onto her stoo see your real dad, I would go with you It ht help To talk to him"

I shake my head "It won’t" What I reallyfirst hand that he doesn’t want me either

Chapter Sixteen

I’m still in shock for several reasons when I wake up the next

I told Priscilla about my family I haven’t talked to anyone about it, ever None of my best friends Why not? The world didn’t explode I didn’t I actually ht feel better

And Priscilla Holy shit She lovessoht, but it didn’t irl I’ve ever seen I let oose bu her dark skin flush

I love her, too I’ve always known it Even when I didn’t want to ad" Mike’s words co if she loves me

When a knock sounds on the door, I jump out of bed A condom wrapper crunches beneathit’s Sebastian, I make sure she’s covered up before I pull my shorts on

I open the door only about three inches, not taking the chance he can see inside "What’s up?" I scratch my head and for so at me all wide-eyed and shocked "Holy shit!"

Holy shit? I push out the door and close it behind me I have no idea how he knows, but he does

"Holy shit!" he says again

"Dude, shut up!"

He shakes his head "I’, it’s just Holy shit! I’m trippin’ out here You have a hickey on your neck!"

I cover it like that will"Seriously, Sebastian I’ to punch you in theI don’t want her to be embarrassed"

"I won’t I’m not an idiot" He crosses his arot we’re supposed to leave Chicago today, which means it’s early and Priscilla and I are behind

All of a sudden, the shocked look on his face starts todifferent He’s serious when he looks atto break her heart, Jay I love you, man, and you’re like my brother, but I’ll kick your ass if you hurt her"

I rollaround here You wanted to do the sa to me when it came to Aspen last year I screwed up, don’t do the saainst the wall and slide down it He sits next to round,on theonna," I shrug,"I’ain" I hit him

"Oh"

"Oh? What do youto stay with theured they could hide me in their place It’s not like Pris’s parents will be out there et it past Mom Or hell, I could just tell her She’s not stupid and she wouldn’t have to know Pris’s parents would freak"

They’re the ones who are fronting most of the , but I’ and I’h I haven’t told Ma yet so we can still get our place"

On the other side of New York

"I don’t want to screw things up if you want to stay with theirlfriend?

"Shut the hell up" Sebastian holds out his fist "It wouldn’t have been the same without you"

For the first time in a while, I bu in the back of the Explorer Aspen looks back at us about a million times the first couple hours and I can see the questions all over her face I’ there are answers to them

I know I love her--but I haven’t told her

I know last night meant a lot to me--which I did tell her

I knoant to be with her--but I still don’t know if I deserve her

I knoant New York--but I still don’t know if I can make it work

It’s not like I’ve been real careful withit for New York anymore Will I be able to help Bastian with rent? Find a job? I’m scared I won’t be able to find one, and I’m also freaked I will I don’t want to be the loser who’s not in school when the rest of the that on such short notice, too?

And when she’s therewith all those guys who are way better thanof the

Priscilla squeezes my hand and drops her head ontoover there"

I laugh because what else can I do? This girl knows ain Looks at our hands and Priscilla leaning onthey’re in desperate need for soirl tiuys are probably nervous about what is said about theirl-talk

But then I look down and see Priscilla smile at her and I wonder if she needs it, too

"Sebastian, stop at the next gas station, yeah?"