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I roll er door He skips after me and opens the door for rip to pull myself up, and bounce down into the seat It smells like the coconut-scented sunblock I’ve had to purchase by the case since htsville Beach He shuts the door and I flinch, still ju mowed down by this monster

He slides into the driver’s seat, but his handsacross the street in theboth ways?"

"I was just walking hoo now?"

"A party? Are you drunk?"

"I don’t drink"

He cocks an eyebrow as he studies aze is the equivalent of a Breathalyzer test

"Hey, I’ to sue you, if that’s what you’re worried about"

"I’ly cocky

"Letyou"

I turn to look through the rearof the truck Where are all the cars? Not that this street is exactly buzzing past et ho and force hi in today"

He tilts his head inquisitively "What do youin?"

"I mean curtains drawn, eye mask on, electronic devices switched off Dead to the world sleeping in," I say as I pull the house keys out of my purse and set the purse on the floor next to my feet

"Sounds serious"

"Sleep is serious"

"What are you soht of partying"

"You just said you weren’t drinking"

"Are you going to keep askingto take me home? ‘Cause I can walk"

He snition and pulls the truck forward "Cora was right about you," he says, then reaches across the console and shakeshi called personal space And how do you know Cora?"

"I don’t believe in personal space Separateness is an illusion We are all connected" He turns tosmile as he pulls into my apartment complex "Welcome home"

There is only one way he would knohere I live and also know Cora

"You’re the new tenant?"

He continues to grin as he guides his truck into the parking space next to Senia’s eine Aunderneath the person who nearly hI hate it’s getting on bad ter up in the middle of nowhere with myout, I couldn’t believe how friendly her fahbors They have parties alether Cora has practically becorandmother to me The least I can do is show her new tenant some courtesy

"Well, then, welcohborly relationship get anywheel, uni the tension "Don’t you want to knohat Cora said about you?"

I open the car door and slide out of the truck, letting out a srunt as I land on the paveht…"