Page 19 (1/2)

Ignoring the tiny voice that said maybe my interest in Dex was less than Brannick-y, I reached out and took his wrist This tih me "You know, I actually like thishis wrist for a better look I hoped it came off as jokey and kind of flirty, but really I was inspecting it forwell, anything Maybe there were runes or so a little, Dexter leaned closer to ave this to me I have very strict instructions never to take it off"

I looked up sharply at that "Seriously? Never? Why?"

For the first time since I'dhis hand back, he shrugged "Superstitious thing, I think Nana, like you, has a touch of the Irish in her" He turned his wrist, the silver gleauess" And then he flashed that grin again "And clearly it has been lucky, because I earing it when I rabbed another fry frohed "Oh, so noe're best friends?"

He nodded very seriously "Two fries I've stolen from you That ce less about his bracelet and his Nana and whatever it was I felt when I touched hi with a boy Leslie and Everton didn't seesting oroverly dramatic declarations of love to one another That had seeht hts were pointless and stupid (and I clearly needed to stop watching Ivy Springs) It's a job, I reer door for s like how soft his hair looks Or how nice his eyes are

Dex walked me as far as the front door, and when he stopped there, my heart pounded inhappened I h TV and read enough books to know that when you eat food with a boy and then he takes you to your door, kissing will occur

And I was in no way ready for that Kissing was another one of those things I'd meant to do more research on, just in case Like, how did you knohich way to turn your head? And what about teeth placement? What if there was a spit issue? Should I have taken Torin up on his offer to helpto keep the panic off ht, then"

He gave a little bow "Until tomorrow, Fair Isolde"

And then he leaned forward

My heart was inOkay, I could do this It was just lips Just lips pressing together, hopefully without spit And tongues tongues Okay, actually, no I could not do this

I was just about to pull back when Dex reached out andruffled ed down the front steps

"Uet that out until he was already in the car, pulling away

Was he going to ruffle ined the way he'd looked at ed his mind?

I walked into the house and turned to face the little mirror in the hallway At least that confirazines," I whispered firmly at"Are you talking to me? And why are you all beet colored?"

Luckily, Mom walked around the corner, and Torin ier than I'd expected," she said, drying her hands on a dish towel

"I ran into that kid The one I think is Prodigiurabbed some food"

"And?" Mom asked expectantly

"And I still don't knohat he is" Taking a deep breath, I pushed er Just until I find out" After all, there was a chance this whole thing wasn't really over, no rave If Dex's Possible Prodigiuhost, I needed to know

Frowning, Mom tossed the towel into the kitchen "Do you think he's anything dangerous?"

My knees felt watery and ht, but not in the way Moh Chick Grimace "No But if he is, I'll take care of it"

She watchedthat I was afraid she was about to say no Instead, she shrugged "Okay, then This one is all yours"

I toldto do with Mo to stay in Ideal

"But you just get one er than that can be dangerous for us"

"Right," I said, nodding Moer you were in a place, the more you were expected to make connections, friends even And Brannicks could never afford that Too ainst the linoleuht in the hallas too di "It's nothing Justjust, good night, Mo there in the hallway Then Mo into the kitchen "And then we're going home"

CHAPTER 21

The next day, Dex wasn't on the bus, but Rorinned and wavedhere?" Anderson didn't usually ride our bus since he had his own car

He sluotten their credit card bill this month, and they may have discovered that I used their American Express to buy so Anderson He opened his backpack, and I could uessed was his EVP recorder "I' up his bag "But it was on sale, so it o ahead and buy it, you know?"

"Absolutely," Roreed "But it sucks that they took your car away"

Anderson shrugged "Just for a feeeks And hey, it uys uys," but you wouldn't have known that fro a s?"

"He textedhis legs to prop his feet on ive a little ju her ponytail around one finger "Did he say why?"

Anderson rolled his eyes "You know Dex He said it was because his Nana needed hi runner, but he'd be in by lunch"