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"Dryer-sheet bed?" I ask Nate, laughing lightly

"It’s a Ty thing He likes the way they smell It’s kind of like Cookie," Nate says with a small shake of his head "Ty likes what he likes"

"Oh! Speaking of…look what I brought," I say, leading Nate back toout ht ainst the doorfra while I start to tuck it back into the zipper bag "You wanna win Ty over forever?" Nate asks, and I pause, pulling the bear back out again "Come with me"

Nate leads me to a small door near the back porch, and I realize quickly it’s the laundry room We toss Cookie into the dryer with a fabric softener sheet and let it spin for about five minutes When it’s done, we pull it out, and I write a small note in all caps that says: "NO MORE FUSSY FUSS, OKAY?" and we tuck the note and the bear in the top of Ty’s blanket for hi her in my house She feels…per at the back of , and I know if I tell her, she’ll leave And I would understand She should leave--she should have known all along, and had her chance to say goodbye But she can never get that back So I guess the only decision nohat happens ht Maybe, toAndthis will hold her back, reat start But I can’t help but think it ht all just backfire, too

Her parents haven’t sold their house yet But the last tiht, they were h with taking a trip--a vacation for just the two of theht curled up with one another on the couch, watching the end of the Pacers and Miaame with Ty andfor our un-traditional Thanksgiving torolls, and Rowe actually seemed excited by it, which only --sos--makes me love her more, and I’m in so deep now, I knoon’t make it back out whole

Stretching out everythe sofa My dad, per tradition, has dozed off in his chair, and Ty is busy dropping sunflower seeds in his hair, one at a tihter--loving herhis hands of the salt from the seeds while he backs away from my dad’s chair "This face needs its beauty sleep And I told Cass I’d call"

"Good," Rowe says, her voice a little forceful, and it actually surprises Ty and ?" Ty asks, his eyebrows pinched as he scratches the darned-near full beard he’s been growing for teeks Rowe looks up at me with her eyes wide; clearly her tone surprised her as well

"Sorry, that…that caainst my hip to sit up in front ofyou" Her words have a strange smile on Ty’s face, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear he was blushing "You should have invited her to come too, you know She wanted to coht and his face reverent "Yeah, I probably should have I’s and we all sit still, sort of soaking in what has suddenly becoe serious environment for the three of us, which Ty, of course, is the first to break "Anywho…gonna go see if she wants to have phone sex So, goodnight all"

Ty is gone for about fifteen seconds before he’s back, gently tossing Cookie in one hand, a sinister chuckle crackling in his chest "Well, look e have here," he says, looking down at the ss it up to his nose to take in its scent He laughs a little louder when he does, and finally looks up at ot lucky there, sister The dryer sheet…yeah That was a nice touch Might have just saved you a world of hurt," he trails off, turning around and going back in his room where he closes the door

"Your brother’s weird," she says, leaning into me slowly