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"He’s taking some time off," I said easily, the way I’d been coached byon souy has to be dying to get back on top now that you’ve been there the last couple years"

I forced a tight sers tentatively brushed over my knuckles Leah

"Hey, Paxton, we’d better catch up with the guide I know you want to get back to the ship," she said quietly

The blonde narrowed her eyes at who she obviously viewed as cohed If Leah had shown one ounce of actual, actionable interest, there would be no contest

Hell, the idea of getting Leah’s curves under ht now You’re not interested in sleeping with Leah

Liar

"I’m Elyse," the blonde said to Leah "Who are you?"

"No one you have to worry about," Leah answered with a laugh in her voice "Pax, you ready?"

She tugged onThen she slipped her hand into irl

"Yeah," I answered "Nice to uys See you on board sometime"

She led me away from the other students, down the railway over the fifty-foot-deep lake beneath us, her thu away a piece ofto ask me?"

"About what?" she asked over her shoulder, her thick, loose braid sliding against her skin

"The X Games? Nitro? Any of it?"

She paused, then turned until we faced each other, as alone as we’d been since we met "Do you want to tell me?"

"No Not yet"

Her eyes were soft and deep as the corner of herto pry It’s not any ofher hand, and I couldn’t help but feel off, like I’d pulled a half when I meant to turn a full--as if I’d just fallen short of whatever the possibility could have been

…