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As she types away on her screen, I look at Miles again, and our eyes meet Just like at the club, there’s thisbeat between us A little iven that it couy who I’m not entirely convinced isn’t a tea cozy cursed by a witch to live as a real-life boy

"There!" Glynnis says, triumphant as she puts her phone back in the pocket of her set on with it?"

I can hear the horses in their stalls, nickering and shuffling and being horsey Now seeood time to mention that I’ve never been on a horse, but I deflect a little

"Why are we doing this for photographers who are already there?" I ask "Can’t we just, like, call the? Isn’t that what they do in Hollywood? We could go to lunch, have them take pictures there There’s soat lunch Unless you do that thing with your face," I add to Miles "I can’t be responsible forwith your face"

"What thing withIt’s this lifting of his chin and tightening of his jaw that makes him look like he’s about to oppress so at me, Miles steps a little closer "This is just what my face looks like"

"That is unfortunate," I say, and Glynnis claps her hands again

"All right!" she trills "The sooner we start, the sooner this can be over"

As she leadsas delicate as this, it’s best if we let the photographers cos feel iven how sensitive this situation is, plausibility is our friend"

"Okay, but horses are not hs, and I end up on the back of a gray irl horse, but I don’t want to point that out in case she hears ets this massive black stallion because of course he does, and within just a few minutes, the two of us are in Holyrood Park behind the palace, riding on horses like people who just fell in love in a tampon commercial

This is ridiculous

But it’s also really pretty here If I ignore how scary it is to have a thousand-pound animal underneath me, I can admit that The sky is blue and alreen and lovely and nearly e an insanely cute little white dog

And, of course, the photographers I see theuys who all look nearly interchangeable in pullovers, baggy jeans, and sneakers

To take my mind off them, I make myself smile at Miles and say, "Is this your normal first date, then?"

He sits a lot more easily in the saddle than I do, the reins just draped in his hands while I’ mine so hard my knuckles are white

"This is actually our fourth date if we’re counting that tiht at the club," he says, and I sit up taller in the saddle

"If we’re counting those, you’re pretty much the worst boyfriend ever"

"Not the first time I’ve heard that," he says, and I jerk my head around to look at hiirl?"

Shaking his head, Miles moves his reins from one hand to the other "Let’s save that for our fifth date, shall we?"

His horse trots ahead a little, and I give htest little touch with my heels to make her catch up To gling those ca as I pull even with Miles

"Is there going to be a fifth one?" I ask "Can’t we just dothis and be done with it?"