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"Wait," I say "Cooper told you I need space?"

"Yeah," Gavin says with a nod "Last night When he alking me back here Which I didn’t need, by the way I mean, I’m twenty-one years old I don’t need anyone to escort me back to my dorm"

"Residence hall," I say "And what else did Cooper tell you about s uncomfortably and turns back to the Monet on the opposite wall "That you were really, really hurt when his brother Jordan cheated on you, and that you were confused, and you’re still getting over the loss, and aren’t ready for any new romantic relationships--"

"WHAT?" I’ve risen tohis head to look at me quizzically, "you know I mean, on account of how you’re still in love with him--"

My heart seems to explode inside ht, of course" Gavin looks taken aback "Oh, shit," he adds, when he sees ot Cooper said not to tell you what he said--you won’t tell hiuy kinda scares me…"

Gavin’s voice trails off as he stares at ine why Maybe it’s because of the way I’ overaround in their sockets

"Well, Ito to babble "Because you’re still so in love with him, you can’t stand to see him marry someone else? Because that’s what your friend Cooper thinks, anyway He thinks that’s why you haven’t been able toJordan’s loss, and that it will be a while before you get over it--"

The scream starts at the bottom of my feet and rises steadily, like steam from a kettle I’gering into the office, his face white as the snow outside He’s not carrying a tray with breakfast on it

"They just found the rest of her," he says, right before he collapses onto the couch beside Gavin

The scream disappears

"The rest of who?" Gavin wants to know

"Lindsay," Tom says

24

They say that only ti hell

What can I do, what can I say

I can’t BELIEVE how da is at her cash register, weeping

"Magda," I say, for what has to be the fifth tida shakes her head Against all laws of physics and hairspray, her hair has collapsed It droops sadly to one side of her face

"Magda Tell me what they found Tom won’t talk about it Gerald won’t let anybody into the kitchen The cops are on their way Just tell rief Pete doesn’t have to argue with any of the residents he is busy herding fro of their own volition, withthe fact that she’s practically keening, I don’t blame them