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"How did you know that?" I ask

"Guess I got lucky"

"Lennon," I say, serious

"Zorie," he says, not serious "I did not co illegal in exchange for it Now, please, if you would, Miss Everhart" He holds the gate open and gestures

I squint at hihts border the loall around the dark viewing platform Below us, at the base of the rid of white and yellow lights, sparkling like fallen stars on black ground San Francisco’s skyline glitters in the distance, and we can see both the Golden Gate and Bay bridges stretching over dark water The wind blows, and I s view

And it’s our viee are alone

When the observatory is operational, a connecting oxidized green doh-powered professional telescope to scan the skies That’s closed right now, but the two smaller public telescopes that norht are still sitting out

"What is this?" I ask

"I’ his chin, "but I think it’s an observatory"

I slant a hard look at hie it with Dr Viramontes We talked a lot after you left thescene with your dad--"

I groan It’s still huly cool about everything"

"He’s a cool guy," I say

"He likes you an awful lot," Lennon says "Whichthat ood camera "My mom’s in on this?"

"I wanted to s eird between us in the past, and I didn’t want her to hate me like your dad does"

I shake my head "She always stood up for you"

"Are you okay? Iout I know it’s not easy--for you or you mom"

"It’s weird," I ads had been different Asto hi"

"I know," I tell hi that holds ood ca you," I say, feeling inexplicably shy

"Not yet," Lennon says, eyeswith my camera on a stand next to one of the telescopes "I can’t believe you did all this"

"Pfft I just got a key code," Lennon says "Dr Vira or tripod, or whatever the hell it is you use--it’s supposed to be in the shed We just have to lock everything up before we leave And if we break anything, we’re in huge trouble I’s Or lawsuits I’m not sure which would be worse"

"Probably the lawsuit," I say, looking around "I’ve never been up here alone"

"There’s a lunar eclipse tonight," he says

Huh He’s right There is I reood as a ood as Condor Peak, but I did proood on that"

My breath hitches I struggle for words, and after glancing around the rooftop dumbly, I blink up at Lennon "I don’t knohat to say It’s one of the s anyone’s ever done foryou froet me a few points"

I chuckle "That’s true But I let you win at poker and gave you most of my M&M’s stash If that’s not love, I don’t knohat is"

I suddenly realize what I’ve said