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E dark under the lanterns "You’re going to cycle back, two miles, in the dark, wasted?"

"Don’t even try and stop otta see"

I find Lacey on the dance-floor with Garrett, and let her know that I’ in close to hiet her home safe," Garrett winks at me

"Yeah," Lacey coos back, "But to whose ho, and stalk back across the party to where we locked the bikes up E in a straight line "Stop following me!" I call overreply co tooff my underwear to the whole entire world And E over the saddle and feet lined up for the pedals

"You know, I can give you a ride" He points out He’s leaning up against the railing, watching me wheel out to the street

"No thanks" I push off, and shakily start pedaling away There! "See? I’ myself hoo hurtling to the ground with a crash I cry out in pain asunder the ainst the concrete

"Juliet!" I hear the concern in Emerson’s yell, and a mo the bike off"Jesus, you really are wasted Are you out of your fkingto ride like this? You could have hit a car or so to hold back a sob My knee stings like crazy, and there’s a sharp shooting pain inlike a total fking mess in front of Eet et up, but pain shoots through round

"Don’t s away

I sit on the side of the street, sniffling with pained tears Where does he expect o? I can barely even stand, let alone run away If I could, I’d hit the road, and not stop until I was all the way back in the city locked safely in Daniel’s aruilt, and check ht already, so I quickly tap out a reply

All good Lacey’s partying it up, I’ home 2 sleep

Within minutes, a brand-new blue truck couilty as Emerson jumps down, and throws the bike in the back "You need e to get upright and hobble over to the truck It hurts like hell, but it’s better than the alternative: , chiseled chest…

I claer seat The door slams Emerson is in the driver’s seat beside me He looks over, then rolls his eyes "Here," he shoves a wad of paper towels at me "Clean yourself up, you look pathetic"

"Gee, thanks for the sy you home Howat all" I reach over to turn the radio up, so, and then turn to stare out of theEain, not until we’ve pulled into the driveway back at the beach house, and he’s turned the engine off "Don’taround toout a hand for nore his hand, and try to scraht on my ankle, which by now feels like it’s swollen to twice its norrowls, then before I can resist, he puts one ars me out into his arms

"Put me down!" I yelp, shocked at the feel of his body, so close toup the steps to the porch I struggle against his body, but his arainst the flood of sensation overwhel me: the heat of hiainstyou!"

E "Do you ever shut the hell up?"

He opens the door, and takes ently on the couch I scoot back theto put the maximum distance between our bodies

"I told you I was fine" I snap angrily

"Yeah, well your ankle says different" Elowers down at me "Maybe you should payyou"

He strides off into the house, leaving me weak and breathless with his last words Whatht now