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I chuckled a little as I climbed out of the pool and pulled on my jeans I handed my sweater to her to cover up with as soon as she cliathered up our clothes and sprinted back tolike the 16-year-olds we used to be When we finally got control of our laughter, I reached over and pulled Nolan’s chin up towardback intoout of the hotel lot

It was maybe 11 pm when I walked her back up to her rooht I could tell she wanted me to stay, and every piece of me wanted to But that was too fast Hell, I juht

We had practice in theto be pretty busy forready for the bowl announceh ere pretty sure we had the Rose Bowl all sewn up I told Nolan that ould pick up where things left off as soon as the semester was done, and that this was just the first of rew quiet as the night ended, I think still unsure of where we stood I knee had to get our trust back in one another, and I knew she still worried about Jenny, and how I felt about her But I planned on earning every piece of her back, and rebuilding her to be whole again, starting with her heart

Chapter 13

Nolan

I called Sarah as soon as Reed droppedevery word about our date, just like I was back in high school and had just received my first kiss I couldn’t believe I’d stripped naked in a public pool just to challenge him in some bet, but Oh my God it was the best bet I’d ever blown

Reed’s touch had the power to erase so rades, or scholarships, or tuition But when I tried to sleep that night, I did wonder about what Reed was thinking He still hadn’t brought up the e, but neither did I

When I didn’t hear from him at all the next day, I slipped back into my old habits, my room dark, and my fire instantly diminished By the tiht dinner, I had convincedJenny I was hesitant to tell thehts at first but, since I really didn’t have anyone else to lean on, I found ers and fries at the sports bar we all went to

"Nolan, you do realize that you’re crazy, right?" Sienna said, leaning forward and forcing et a bowl bid, he had practice all day, he’s working with Dylan, and scouts and business people and, lord knows Buck’s probably involved"

I swith a fresh perspective She was right, and I was auto I needed to stop doing, and I was about to declare it publicly, when a gliister what it was

"Holy shit, Sienna Is that what I think it is?" I said, pointing to her hand She blushed a little, and then brought her hand to the table to reveal a giant dia Sarah and I just stared at it withso the entire restaurant turned to our table

"You bitch, you held out on us," Sarah said, slugging her on the shoulder a little Sienna just rubbed it, and elbowed her back

"No, I just couldn’t seeht," she was bea even more while she told us the story about how Micah had led her on a treasure hunt around their apartht was a special dessert She said he had called her parents and got down on one knee and everything My heart was soaring forwith hope at the sairlfriends were screa over

My worries froht when I got a string of texts from Reed

I’m so sorry I was so busy today Didn’t have any ti without e the saain We texted or talked every night until the end of the semester, and we ot hoet ht after the gaht in this strange place betanting to just trust hi bitterly jealous