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Recognition flared in her deep brown eyes "Ah, yes How is that brother of yours doing?"

On safe, coood He’s going to try out for DC United early next year"

"Really? That’s great to hear" She glanced over at Jase, who now had his brother doing the Superh "Did you know Jase used to play soccer?"

"Moroaned

I nodded "Yeah, Cam’s mentioned it a time or two, but he never said why he stopped"

Mrs Winstead opened her round "We’ve got to run, Mom" He barely looked at me "Come on, Tess"

I folded ue I was not a dog, and I did not respond to coo!" Jack iht up with him

"Nah, little buddy, you have to sit this one out"

His lower lip started to treot to take Tess back, all right?"

Jack pouted, clearly seconds away from ould likely become an epic tantrum Jase knelt in front of hiot down on his level, so unlike o out for ice cream How does that sound?"

Jack’s eyes lit up, but the boys’ ain"

Jase stuck his tongue out "We aren’t going to ruin anything, are we?"

He giggled "Nope!"

"Okay Get your butt inside" He rose, guiding Jack over to where Mrs Winstead waited "I’ll be back in a little while" He turned to e for the first ti you"

She slanced over at Jase and then back to ot more aard

I nodded, because what could I do? Jack tore away fro him back, I kneould be hard not to love the little boy

Part of me wanted to stay behind and hitch a ride back to campus, but that would look weird, so after Jack ran off, I entleman when he wanted, Jase held open the door

I didn’t say thank you

Jase cli I could’ve produced, which pissedput out? Jaw locked down, he turned the car around and headed down the gravel road He didn’t speak until we neared the end of the long stretch of road

"Tess--­"

"Don’t," I said, cutting hiht now that I’ to want to hear And if you tell ain" My voice cracked in an e to punch you in the throat Seriously"

His lips twitched as if he thought I was joking "I shouldn’t have phrased it that way, but--­"

"Nope," I warned, sensing he was about to say soether to keep the like a pansy ass, and I could feel his eyes on o home"

There was a beat of silence and then he said, "Fuck"

Instead of pulling out, he shifted the gear into park The Jeep idled as he twisted in his seat toward me "You don’t understand, Tess"

I rolled my eyes, about to make a smart-­ass coht I don’t You’re attracted tome away Is it because of Cam? Because seriously, that’s lame, Jase He’s my brother, not the holder of my chastity"

Jase’s face puckered as if he’d tasted soe I never wanted to picture"

"Oh, shut up"

His features sht, it’s not Ca up with his little sister is crossing all kinds of lines, but I can get over that"

"Obviously you did," I er"Or your ck got over it real quick like"

Jase sed a strangled cough "Tess, Iit’s just you don’t want to be with h "Wow So this is a new atte you? Smooth"

"It’s not like that," he insisted "Trust s you don’t know aboutaze to him, I arched a brow "Did you kill sos?"

"What?" His brows furrowed "No"

"Have you beaten or raped a girl? Have a stash of kids locked in a basement somewhere? Or you’re secretly a terrorist?"