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"This is Ms Shaw froistrar up here at CU Boulder One of your classes"--papers swished in the background--"Psych 325: Early Childhood Trauma, has been cancelled Was there another class you’d care to put in its place?"

"Cancelled?"

"Yes, , and took a step toward me Riley crossed his arms and leaned forward onto the island

It wasn’t a choice between theht? But Gus neededWhat the hell was I supposed to do?

You do what you can Graht I could only do as inelse I had to let slip But this? This was in my power "No, thank you"

"You wouldn’t like to add another class?"

Past versus future, but with the options in front of me, I couldn’t tell which hich Both were familiar, both were a sort of home, but there was only one place I was needed Ito Boulder My father died over break, and I’m needed at home Could you withdraw s"

Riley’s face lost all its color, and he shook his head quickly His ht out of water

"I’m sorry to hear about your father, and to lose you, December," the clerk said with sympathy

I looked up at the slow smile that spread across Josh’s face and said, "Thank you" I hung up, knowing she was right: when it came to the people at Boulder, Riley and Kayla, it was their loss

I just wasn’t sure it was Josh’s gain

Chapter Eight

"The dor in the last of my boxes from the car She’d jumped at the chance to see my new apartment "Besides, Sam’s roommate flunked out last semester, so it’s pretty perfect" It had only taken a week, but I’d ed to avoid Rileyand Josh