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"Coo You’ve been blowing off her invites for o" I hs "She’s your sister, it’ll be fine I’ll drive, so you can even have a glass of wine"

Try the whole damn bottle, I silently add

"So, I’ll call her," Daniel sue, but I know, family is important to Daniel He talks to his older brother all the time, and calls his parents every Sunday like clock-work Back e started dating, I didn’t want hi how fked up ular people: distant, but fine Instead of leaving things be, now he acts like it’s his duty to bring us all back together any opportunity he gets

I look up at hih and nod "Fine, we’ll go

"Great" Daniel looks satisfied: one more step in his ‘reunite the faot a review session at one, but you good to ain

He slad you’re back I missed you" Daniel pulls me closer and kissesto block out all hts, but when I close my eyes, it’s not Daniel’s face I see, or his lips I feel pressing againstif you don’t want to be late!" I exclaiht See you at my apartestively "I really rin

My heart catches inaway "Later!"

Daniel heads off across ca just frouilty blush, andis any better?

I block out the whisper of my conscience, and turn and hurry across cah the midday crowds towards the business center I tell myself it’s because I really do need those review notes, but deep down I know, it’s because I want some of what I told Daniel to be the truth I haven’t fled Cedar Cove because I can’t keep ue out of itiht

My route takesthe students out on the front steps, and gathered after class You can tell the art majors a mile away It’s not like they all walk around with paint stains on their clothing (although some of them do), it’s e outfits Individual and creative The group of girls nearred lipstick, and cute thrift store floral dresses, and they’re carrying huge sketch-pads and portfolios with curled paper peeking out from inside

I remember what Emerson said to me on the beach, the confused accusation in his voice When he knew irls I’d been accepted into a photography prograo off and startmyself entirely into my art Even when I fell so hard in love with hie, only the location We talked aboutto art schools on the Gulf Coast, or even the Carolinas Raleigh, Asheville--there were tons of places within a few hours’ drive of Cedar Cove Emerson had to stay in town to take care of Brit and Ray Jay, but I could et a job in town, and then start school nearby the next fall

My parents flipped out when I told the to work h school on et there As long as I ith Eht But then everything changed

I feel the dark pang of sadness ripple through , to the familiar libraries and classrooms over on my side of ca round with panic on their faces and shadows under their eyes Luckily, I’s: I have my color-coded study schedule, and a systeh all through the year, taking on whatever extra projects and extended essays I could, so now, I only have a few finals to get through before graduating It’s all part of y to keep the panic attacks to ado-or-die series of exams Daniel helped me plan it all out at the start of the year, and now, I’ around like crazy trying to cra inside the building Just another reason why Daniel is perfect for oals, he doesn’t judge like E, and when I check my phone, it’s another text fro about hiuiltily, then quickly duck in an alcove back from the hallway I dial his nu "Where the fk have you been? We need to talk--"