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"Hey, if nothing happened, there’s nothing to worry about" I feel desperate and lost He leans close toa curl behind my ear Our eyes lock He wants what Cole can’t Jesse breathes, "I’ll cover for you I can tell them hoe met that day on the beach There were other people around If you say that ether, and deny your relationship with your boss, they should let it drop"

"I can’t have you lie formore space between us

"It’s not a lie," he says lifting his hand toabout you I keep checkingme"

I feel so lost, so alone I need Cole, but that will just make it worse The entire relationship with hi with hiive I want his whole heart, but he won’t let ether and I can’t stop looking at Jesse’s lips He pullshis mouth to mine It’s like last ti h my mind I could try to hold onto whatever I have with Cole, but there’s nothing there Correction, there’s friendship there and nothing more We traded sex secrets and he didn’t even look atto him The way he cradled me in his arms felt like I mattered, but I went to sleep alone and woke up alone Cole didn’t see ht Was it cheating to continue this kiss?

There’s nothing between you and Cole, so how are you cheating? The voice inside my head snaps at me like I should know better

Jesse’s breath is war of his hand on the side of ers byfor me to push hi a rush of emotions race by as I plu with Cole

Jesse’s tongue slips past my lips and into ht about this since the first ti, to let go of the weeks I’ve spent with Cole, but I can’t I break the kiss and look down Jesse’s hands re my face I can’t look at him

"Sorry I just can’t" my voice is shaky and trails off

He touches his forehead to , Anna" When he leans back, he drops his hands to his lap He s I wish I found you first"

I glance up fro is pressing down onme feel like a claustrophobe trapped in a coffin I can’t stand it I want to nod at Jesse and act like he doesn’t affect me, but he does I stand and he does the sa to catch my eye

I mean to look up and nod, but a sob catches in my throat Tears fill my eyes as I nod and cry, "Yeeees"

"I think you rab an early dinner"

"Why are you being so nice toat all Besides, it seeht about now, anyway" He keeps his distance, occasionally brushing againste onto the jammed streets It’s rush hour He takes rab a table in the corner

I dab my eyes with a tissue and look up at hi hie,I can’t have--Cole Stevens

"So, you want to talk about it?" he asks, leaning his ar to talk about Nothing happened with ’s happened the entire summer"

"But you wish it did?" he says

I nod "I thought there was so When we talked about it last night, he pretty much told me no"

Jesse’s face twisted with confusion "Then where’d the co "No idea It’s a slap in the face after last night Honestly, you got further with ot with him"

Jesse smiles "Did I?"

I nod and look up at hio"