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Prologue

Ty

Here’s the thing about a really good dream: no ripping the sheets, face pressed deep into the coolness of your pillow--you alake up

Always

My dreams are always the sa it around ht back on ainst the ball Then I’

I can feel it all

Soh, Kelly is there after I round the bases I feel her weight inaround s around my body, and I lift her It’s all so effortless I kiss her, carry her, touch her--breathe her in

And then it all just stops

The buzzing of the alarainst the dream I was forcefully reet it all out of the way here and now, because I can’t s anyone else’s burden And I have to get up I have to pack and get my ass on a plane back to Louisiana to e I know if I go where he goes, we’ll both h life

He doesn’t know this, but I need hi one, and Nate’s the gifted one with the big heart Those are our roles in life; I was crowned at birth by being born first I take care of Nate, no matter what Even if I’ister the half-naked brunette exitingThere was a party, and there were a lot of underclass Huh--I ht

I force my typical se of the bed, still wrapped infrolance at the back of her naked body while she’s facing the other way She’s hot Super hot But she’s notchicks that, but I have no idea what her naht, and I hate to be a dick, but…I gotta go," I say as I pull rab irlfriends," she says, lad I ith it enough to have that conversation with her before anything else "You planning on coh?"

And there it is She knows my deal, we had the conversation--but they alant more "Sweetheart," I say, her na back to Florida again And if I do, it will be in ht to catch in just a few hours…and that towel you’re in? I need to pack that So--"

She looks like she wants to punch me, and I don’t blame her But I never make any promises I can’t keep I’m on the hook for toofordespite --sometimes I even believe it myself But other tie yourazines What the hell? I turn it over and see her nuht--Beth

"Yeah, thanks," I say, tossing it in the trash right in front of her That prettyer on her way out I deserve that I probably deserve a lot worse But Beth is better off without me, and as selfish as it sounds, I need to keep all of s I want in my life I don’t have the capacity to share with anyone else I lost that the mo for a fewabout their lives outside Pressing oodbye; the guy picks the chick up and swings her around, and then they kiss like they’re in love You can tell the difference My kisses are all about using and avoiding They’re great in the , except maybe vodka or Tequila--or, soet off But that kiss--the one happening two stories down fron It’s about love and happiness and the future