Page 39 (1/2)

Flick and Derek dragged her out of the room and back to her cell She shouted profanities the entire way

"Well," said Paci, looking at Trip and then "

"She’s lucky she’s a chick," said Trip

"Since when?" I asked, laughing a little "I see a knife onevilly "You’re the ball-biter"

"Call me that one more time and see what happens"

He pointed over uard is here"

I turned around to find Peter atout of his way "Mister righteously indignant hi to stand next to Trip "I have a right to be offended at her words"

"No one’s saying you don’t," said Paci "So when does she leave?" he asked "And were you serious? Bodo really offered to go"

I nodded It felt weird telling Paci "He says he needs to leave He’ll go there first and maybe to the Keys He’s not sure yet"

"You’re okay with that?" asked Peter, worry in his eyes

"No I’m worried about his safety"

"What about …" Paci left his question hanging and I didn’t bother answering

"Better get theo to for her"

"Gotcha Consider it done" He looked up at Trip "Feel like helpingdoith a serious expression on his face

"Yes, of course Don’t fool yourself into thinking my questions are actually questions"

"Oh, believe uys later" He followed Peter out of the rooe He didn’t shake Peter off when Peter took his hand in his and pulled hi

"They’re cute, aren’t they?" I asked

Paci stood just behind ht I’d say that about Trip and another guy, but it’s true They go together well"

I sighed I was so happy for him I sent out a silent prayer into the universe that they’d stay that way - happy and coether, with no lies between the I can’t believe it"

Paci’s words o up my arms "Yes It’s unreal" I almost whispered it, I was so distracted by visions ofout of the water with a huge grin on his face, teasing Peter about his doodling, Paci and uys Both of thehter and love But only one of theht me pain

I felt Paci’s warm hand settle on the cool skin of ?" Paci stared into my eyes

I knew my ansas very important to him "I’m very sad"

Paci’s face fell "Oh"

"Because I love hi killed"

Paci nodded his head, his nostrils flaring

"But not because I want to be with him"

Paci had been about to withdraw his hand, but instead held on "You don’t? Why not?"

"Because He hurt me He lied to me I know he loves me, but I can’t trust hi that bad, that it can’t be forgiven?"

"I’ve forgiven hiet Every tiain"

Paci nodded "Maybe I can get a shot at your heart now If you’re not too gun shy If I didn’t blow it already by forcing myself on you that one time"

I smiled sadly "You didn’t force yourself on ht of all of it still so heavy "Let’s just take it one day at a time, okay? I’m not in any hurry to frolic in theI’hed "Frolic in a h That’s how I picture true love or whatever" My face was burning with eood to know So when you strip off all your clothes and run through a field with hed as I turned to leave the room "Yeah Then you’ll know"

"Whatout behind me "Will any meadow do or is there a special one you have in mind?"

"Any meadow Anywhere But I have to be naked"

"I can handle that"

"Maybe, ain, especially because it was Paci I stopped e reached the hallway, because the realization that Bodo was leaving hit ain and sobered me up quickly But a piece of me, a very small piece, wasn’t as desperately sad as it had been just an hour ago

About half of the citizens of Haven showed up for Bodo and Gail’s departure Gail rehout the entire process, but she wasn’t so stupid that she didn’t take the backpack full of supplies that was offered to her

Winky stood next to me at the fence "She sure is a peach, isn’t she?"