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I didn’t respond because I hadn’t really thought of it that way, but now that he said it, I did use those things to escape Discoroups "What about you? Are you trying to escape?"

Several seconds passed before he answered "That’s the funny thing about trying to escape You never really can Maybe temporarily, but not completely"

I nodded absently, struck by the depth of what he said It was the truth After I finished a book or potted a plant, Dad was still dead, my best friend was still an alien, and I was still attracted to Dae break next week He’d be out of town forthe small restaurant Warmth jolted down my spine

Oh, holy hell to the no I couldn’t believe it This was not happening

Behind the tall partition walls, a dark head ainst the seat, wholly aware of hi here?

Daerace I envied Wo or ceased ive him more room He had a profound effect on everyone who saw hi, Blake twisted around, and his shoulders stiffened as he faced me "Overprotective type…?"

"I don’t…even knohat to say," I uys" Daemon slid into the seat next to me, which left very little rooainst his, tingling and warape

"Oh, sorry" Daemon didn’t look sincere Or make any attempt to leave

A half smile formed on Blake’s lips as he sat back and folded his arreat" He stretched, draping his ar the back of our booth "How about you, Brad?"

Blake laughed softly "My naers tapped off the back of the booth, brushingdinner," I said and started to scoot forward, but Daeers gently sliding against oose bu my skin

"And I think ere just about done," Blake said, his eyes centered on Daemon "Weren’t we, Katy?"

"Yeah, we just need our check" Very discreetly, I lowered h, and pinched Hard

He tuggedto do after dinner? Was Biff taking you to a rin started to falter "Blake And that would be the plan"

"Hlass tipped over

I gasped Water sloshed over the table, spilling into Blake’s lap He juain His plate of spicy noodles slid--well, flew--onto the front of Blake’s sweater

My jaw dropped Holy e

"Jesus," Blakenapkins, I turned to Daeeful death as I handed Blake the napkins

"That was really strange," Dae his crotch dry For ato come across the table And then his eyes shuttered Quietly and with stiff, jerky movements, he brushed off the brown noodles The waitress rushed to Blake’s side with several more napkins

"Well, anyway, I’lass and took a drink "You’re needed at home"

Blake halted his movements "Excuse me?"

"Did I speak too fast, Bart?"

"His naht now, at this very moment?"

Dae "So has co obviously meant alien business Unease crawled down my spine Now his sudden appearanceto believe it had been pure, prio all stalker on us

And as much as it tickedto Blake, I winced "I’aze darted between us as he picked up the check "It’s okay Things happen"

I felt like a tool, which seeest wiener ever "I’ll ht, Katy I’ll take you hoot this, Biff"

I wanted to face-palm myself "Blake His name is Blake, Daemon"

"It’s okay, Katy," Blake said, lips thin "I’ me to scoot out

Blake took care of the check, and we headed outside I stopped by his car, aware of Daemon’s intense stare "I am so, so sorry"

"It’s okay You didn’t knock the stuff onoverhis cell out of his back pocket, he checked the display before shoving it in his jeans "Although that was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen But anye’ll et back from break, okay?"