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“What’s sadistic?” Kitty wants to know She puts her head between us

I push her back and say, “Put your seat belt on”

Peter puts the car in reverse “Itother people in pain makes you happy”

“Oh” She repeats it to herself softly “Sadistic”

“Don’t teach her weird stuff,” I say

“I like weird stuff,” Kitty protests

Peter says, “See? The kid likes weird stuff” Without turning around, he lifts his hand up for a high five and Kitty leans forward and slaps it heartily “Hey, gi back there”

“It’s alone, so you can have the rest,” she says

Kitty hands it over, and Peter tips back the plastic container in his rocery store,” Kitty tells him “They come in a pack and you can put them in the freezer and if you pack it for lunch, it’ll be icy and cold when you drink it”

“Sounds good to , will you? For services rendered”

I shoot him a dirty look and Peter says, “Iyou one, Peter,” Kitty says

“That’s ive me a ride to school tomorrow, too,” Kitty finishes, and Peter hoots

32

BEFORE FOURTH PERIOD, I’M ATto repinfrom the door

“Lara Jean?”

“Yes?”

I peek around the door and it’s Lucas Krapf, wearing a thin V-neck sweater in brilliant blue and stone-colored khakis “I’ve had this for a while nowI wasn’t going to say anything, but then I thought maybe you’d want it back” He puts a pink envelope in ot his, too

I drop it into my locker, make a yikes face at myself in thewhat this is all about,” I begin And then I io, and—”

“You don’t have to explain”

“Really? You’re not curious?”

“No It was just really nice to get a letter like that I was actually pretty honored”

I let out a relieved sigh and sag against ht? He kno to say the perfect thing