Page 53 (1/2)

Harper bristled "Hoas that bad? I was just thanking you!"

"Exactly!" He motioned to her, the sad, crooked s ed his voice to a high falsetto, presumablyis, you’re a dick’"

"I never said that!" Harper shot back, genuinely offended by his impersonation "I would never say that! I don’t think you’re a dick!"

"Sure you do" He scratched the back of his neck and wouldn’t look at her "You think I’m some kind of a slob and a loser You have ever since we met, and I am sorry about the ere introduced, but I think I’ve spent enough ti to prove to you that I’m not like that It was just a really bad first impression"

When they’d e of the boat Harper looked up at just the wrong tiion

"That was an awful first iree to that But I’ve never … Okay, I haven’t thought you were a loser for a long ti that’s been happening I know that you are not a dick at all You are kind and patient and brave and funny and so nice…"

She trailed off and stared down at her lap, because that wasn’t what she wanted to say at all And it actually eain, you know," Daniel said "You justof compliments sound terrible"

"Well, I’m sorry!" She threw her hands up in exasperation "I meant them, but I don’t kno else to say it"

"I believe you meant them But you didn’t come here today to tell me any of that" He paused, and Harper looked at hiht "You came here to tell me to leave you alone"

Harper was silent for ato tell you to leave ently, then, but the senti to that, and Daniel sat down next to her Not too close, but close enough, and neither of the for a minute The silence felt a little aard, but Harper didn’t kno to fill it

"What’s the deal with us?" Daniel asked finally

"What do you mean?" Harper lifted her head cautiously "There is no deal with us There’s nothing We’re just friends--"

"Harper," Daniel groaned "Stop"

"No, Daniel, I won’t stop There’s really dangerous stuff going on right now, and I really do need to focus on that And I don’t want you getting hurt That’s what’s going on That’s the deal with us I don’t have tiet hurt"

He met her eyes evenly and simply said, "Bullshit"