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But there were no ro stohI felt in Deacon’s presence, and the reason I only ier

It didn’t matter that I kneasn’t Deacon; that wouldn’t stop uy to say those things to : ro the way I viewed men and relationships

"Deacon, Graham’s done that forever So has Knox So did you until you started hating ripped ht our faces so close that I was silently begging for him to close the rest of the distance between us To press hisexcept the way he made me feel

"For my sanity, and for the sake of our friendship, don’t let Grahaain" He passed his lips across mine in a kiss so soft, I wasn’t sure it happened at all "Say ‘okay’ "

"Okay"

He sainst h filled the car as I scraet out of it, and his voice followed et off"

I paused froh my veins like ice I turned my head slowly to look back at him, and asked, "Promise?"

"Where else would I be, Charlie Girl?" Deacon shotTiht in my throat, and a chill spread over my skin like a lover’s caress I wanted to experience the feeling again and again

Awareness ca back in with a rush, and I hurried to memorize the set of his eyes and his smile Because I knewI knew a look like that, I wanted to remember forever

Chapter Fifteen

Charlie

June 24, 2016

I WATCHED KEITH frorill in Thatch, my sone down today--complete with use of the Force, since he was, of course, Darth Vader

He couldn’t go into the hearing unprotected against the ladybug judge, after all

And I didn’t care

I didn’t care if he wanted to be Darth Vader or Iron Man or Captain Aht whatever ladybugs he encountered