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He stares atmoment as he drinks fro when he looks at me like that

"You’re so pretty," he says suddenly

Oh

"Thanks" I shift in the chair,coo up as well

"You want to get out of here?"

And there it is

"Loden, I’ with you"

He ss the water in his mouth and one side of his lips turn up "That was direct," he states through a chuckle He leans closer and tucks a chunk of hair behindoverto deny I want to sleep with you But I onlyto eat" He sits back and my face heats even more than it already was "For now," he adds with a wink

I arch a brow at hi to eat?"

He nods "For now," he repeats

"What does thathis empty bottle on the table "Eventually, I’d like this to lead soraduate require pretty soon with law school approaching I’hs, running a hand through his damp hair "That sounds creepy, doesn’t it? I barely know you I’ about the future"

That doesn’t sound creepy at all It’s like he read my mind "Okay," I say

He set so to eat"

He holds out his hand and I take it, letting him help me from my seat We stand chest to chest for several seconds as he looks down atabout his statement bothers me I’m not even sure what exactly, so I brush it off I refuse to find faults in everything he says I won’t be ive this a real shot

10

A Dustland Fairytale

Chase

I should be swi in the corner bystalker I force ood to her

Guy stops in front oflike a lunatic "Dude, that’s fun as hell" He nods toward the high dive, shaking water from his head, and I chuckle

"Cannonballs are always a party favorite"

He nods distractedly "Why aren’t you in the pool? You invitedout "

He sits down besideat?"

My gaze flicks to Annie quickly beforeon the side of the pool with a few other girls She’s laughing, kicking her feet through the water, careful not to get too wet Girls like Ella won’t actually swim because they don’t want to mess up their hair and make-up They aren’t here for the pool part of the party

"I thought she hated you for putting the ," Guy says I look sideways at hihter "What kind of dog was it anyway?"

I shrug "I don’t know It was one of those little yippy things"

"Like a Chihuahua?"

"Yeah, I think so That’s the Taco Bell dog, right?"

"Uh-huh So, set you all hot and bothered?" He’s laughing again, loudly this time, and I try not to smile

"Shut the fuck up" I shove hi hima now Ella and her friends run--literally run--in the opposite direction when they see rabs his sto harder "Annie deserves serious props for that one," he says He sits up quickly and gestures to the pool "Come do cannonballs with me?"

"Are you sure? You wouldn’t rather lie on the floor laughing at er?"

He cocks his head to the side, thinking "Nah, I’h at you later"

I stand up, kicking his shin as I step over hi to feel bad about the way you treat me"

"Possibly, but not today" He holds his hand out and I help hih dive and I follow We have to walk past Ella on the way, but I’ attention to her My focus is on Annie She’s standing in between Loden’s legs as he sprawls out on the bench She’s still dressed, so I guess they’re not swi Her head lifts just as I pass by and she s smiles from Annie I like it

Guy stops and I alaze to Ella and her friends, still sitting along poolside He ht next to Ella’s head

And then he starts barking

All four girls jump, startled, and slide into the deep end Before they have tihter fronize it i so hard to calrin and point at her "You started it"

She shrugs "Worth it," she calls "That is soe a look with Guy We take two steps toward Annie and she throws her hands up, pal?"

Guy smiles at her and I’m impressed at the level of deviousness he puts into it There’s no way she doesn’t know exactly what’s colances back at Loden for help, but he’s laughing "Don’t you do it Guy Handlin," she de around Loden’s legs She’s going to run Guy realizes it at the sae at her, but she slips past us and takes off