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"Oh" She blinks and leans back "Sorry"
"Don’t apologize" I try to softenher hand in ers are slender and cold and I squeeze the I can warm them up "I’m the one who should say sorry It’s just … it’s a mess I need to work on it some more" Like trash it and start completely over
"I bet it’s fine Just add it to your portfolio Don’t worry about it" She tries to pull out of ht?"
"Yeah, I have one" This conversation has taken a strange turn I just wrote aboutabout printers and shit I have to get this back on track "Chelsea Go out withher hand out ofof ently coax open "What do youafter this? Do you have to work later tonight?" I hate that stupid job she has at the diner It makes me worry about her
She slowly shakes her head "No I’h I do have a paper I should start on"
"When’s it due?" If she turns uy can take only soto Fable when I told her I thought I was beneath Chelsea Her refusal would only provebreak," she admits, and I chuckle
"Chels That’s weeks away," I point out
"I know I just like to think ahead and be prepared" Her voice drifts and she glances down, lifting that one bare shoulder, the one I’ to touch Trace the pale pink lace of her bra, slipthe strap down her arm "You think I’m a freak"
"No, I think you’re kind of mean" She lifts her head, her eyes so wide they look like they’re going to pop out of her head "You’re leaving ht or what?"
"Oh" She blinks atht to hell within the next few days I’ll be back at work, back at practice, and back in action I won’t have ti her along and get her hopes up But hell, sitting here, breathing in her scent, seeing her pretty face tell , I know I have to do this I want to do this
I want to be with her Even if it’s only for tonight, for a few hours We don’t have to do anything I have zero expectations She’s not the type of girl who’ll put out She has more respect for herself than that I respect her, too
But nothing says I can’t kiss her I’ to try my daht is through That’s a fking proht," she says, her voice so soft I alht"
Relief floodsher into o out to dinner?"
"Okay"
"A s "Not really I can hardly sit still through the sheti ti those two-plus hours talking to you instead" She smiles dreamily and fuck, that’s it I’ right now? Wear it tonight" Reaching out, I give in to er across her shoulder, trace the lacy bra strap Her skin is so fking soft I wonder if she’s that soft all over "I like it A lot"
A shiver er, and that little hint that my touch affects her kick-starts ot it so bad for this girl it’s scary
Chelsea
"You’re going on a date," Kari says, her voice flat, her expression full of utter disbelief
"Yes I aht hair, then toss it onto the counter, where it lands with a loud clatter "And I totally hate my hair"
"Why? It’s so pretty Such a rich color and so thick" Kari stands just behind -out-with-someone look still on her face "So you wear this sexy little sweater, show off so on a date? With who I could keepas possible, but I know Kari is going to keep at me incessantly until I have no choice but to confess She could convince just about anyone to reveal all their secrets She should go work for the CIA or so to do with the sweater"
Okay, it probably did, though I don’t necessarily want to give the sweater thatme out on a date Yeah, he liked it And I liked it when he tracedbeneath the lace to actually touch my skin
I’d wanted to die, all over a too brief touch that had soer on o
Which et a move on, because Oill be here soon to pickto burst
"Don’t act all h when I shoot her a dirty look She loves getting a rise out ofout with And please don’t say it’s Tad"
Gri, I shake ht at The District"
"Lucky you! I’ve seen him a few times when I’ve been with Brad He’s just asher for any more details I really don’t care The very last person I want to talk about is stupid, mean Tad "Will you curl my hair for me, Kari? I want it to look pretty"
"I told you, it already looks pretty," she says as sheiron that’s sitting on the counter, plug it in, and flick the switch on "Stop holding out, Chelsea I need to knoho this mystery date is with"