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"Silas says…open the book to a randoe and read the first few sentences you see"

She chuckles "That’s easy"

"I wasn’t finished," I say "Silas says read the sentences at the top of your lungs"

She spins around to face s across herthe book out in front of her "Fine," she says "You asked for it" She clears her throat, and then, as loud as she can, she reads, "IT MADE ME WANT TO MARRY HER! MADE ME WANT TO BUY HER A MAGIC AIRPLANE AND FLY HER AWAY TO A PLACE WHERE NOTHING BAD COULD EVER HAPPEN! MADE ME WANT TO POUR RUBBER CEMENT ALL OVER MY CHEST AND THEN LAY DOWN ON TOP OF HER SO THAT WE’D BE STUCK TOGETHER, AND SO IT WOULD HURT LIKE HELL IF WE EVER TRIED TO TEAR OURSELVES APART!"

Charlie is laughing when she finishes But when the words she read begin to register, her laughter fades She runs her fingers over the sentences like theyto her "That was really sweet," she says She flips through the pages of the book until she coraph Then, in just barely a whisper, she begins reading again "Fate is the netic pull of our souls toward the people, places, and things we belong with"

She stares at the book for a moment and then closes it She places it back on the shelf, but she moves two books out of the way so that this book can be displayed more prominently "Do you believe that?"

"Which part?"

She leans against a wall of books and stares over my shoulder "That our souls are pulled toward the people we belong with"

I reach out to her and pull at a lock of her hair I run er "I don’t know if I normally believe in soul mates," I tell her "But for the next twenty-four hours, I’d bet my life for it to be true"

She rolls her shoulder until her back is pressed against the wall of books, and she’s facing ht now I soirl than will fit inside offor her to feel the sa Which…in this very moment…is for my mouth to be on hers

"Charlie…" I release her lock of hair and bringher cheekbone with ertips Her breaths are shallow and quick "Kiss me"