Page 10 (1/2)

"Uh?"

She practically pushes me into a seat across from her, and then she leans across the table "Last Saturday After we left Tell "

"There’s not ainst

"Hailey Hailey Let ht?"

All I can e is a lift ofabout me I’m practically an old married woman now I’ve settled down My scandalous days are behind one vanilla I’m balled I’m chained I’ brown eyes relued to the confused expression on ive me details I want a story I need the lon Give me some juice I want the--"

"She’s had too much caffeine," Rowan teases, and Dee never breaks eye contact withat her friend

"Uh" I atteh ed to tangle in and around and over theers in the knots as I say, "Well, not much happened Danica fell asleep, and Mike and I played video ga in her chair "That’s seriously it? You played video ga, and in spite of the pout on Dee’s face, Rowan smiles "What did Mike think of your Deadzone skills?"

The corners ofup at her question "He was iether?"

Too ht inat the jokes that were told or the stupid things that were said or the way Mike’s chocolate-brown eyes brightened when he laughed so hard, they filled with tears I’ve remembered the way he wiped those tears on his shoulder since his hands were holding his game controller

And I’ve remembered earlier: the show The way he looked at the back of the stage, his ht danced over his shoulders, his neck, his arms I’ve remembered the way the entire room juiving rhyth of the club, and the way Mike’s eyes lifted at breaks in the songs to take it all in

And then, I’ve remembered that he’s Danica’s boyfriend, and I’ve focused on that, and focused on that, and focused on that

"Yeah," I finally answer Rowan "It was a lot of fun"

"Mike’s a sweetheart, right?" she asks with that bright sht?" Dee asks, her s Rowan’s I stare back and forth between theossip about boys And I’ my cousin

"I think he’s hot as hell," Dee offers "I ht? Even Joel doesn’t have arms like Mike Joel’s arms are kind of lean, but Mike’s ar?" I ask, and Dee’s face twists, her brows knitting over a severely crinkled nose