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"Violet" Luke’s voice flickers the tension insideabout the roof

I lower rass and the tension pretty ot a shirt on, covering up his chest and tattoos and he has that leather band on his wrist that he alears, the one that says "rede to him that willtoward hi to say

"Hey," he says when he reaches me beneath the canopy of the trees

"That’s three ‘heys’ in the last twenty minutes" I force a smile, but it hurts

He so-to word"

"I guess so"

The dor in the sunlight Seth and I think his na Seth narrows his eyes at me and shoots me a dirty look

Luke stuffs his hands into the pockets of his shorts "So, I have to tell you soet nervous, but I do, which makes me want to run, but I don’t because I want to be near him

"It’s about the apartes the back of his neck tensely "Seth and Greyson were going to go to Seth’s place for the su to stay here… and they want me to share a place with them on Elm" His arm falls to the side as he waits for me to respond

As it clicks, my face falls, but I quickly pickdisappointht on cue "Elm’s a nice place"

"Yeah, it is and I think Greyson knows the dude ns it so he’s giving them a furnished one for cheap"

"Sounds awesoh I feel like a fking rain cloud on the inside

"Yeah" He glances over at the parking lot where Seth and Greyson are cli into a sleek black car parked near the front door "So I was thinking," he looks back at me, "That you could stay with us, too"

My heart skips a beat, but I shove it down "That’s theI’ve ever heard, but thanks for the offer"

"More ridiculous than panda bears giving you drugs," he jokes but then sighs "Look, I know Seth’s a little intense, but I asked him and he said he was okay with it"

"I don’t care if he’s okay with it," I tell hirass "I’m not a charity case I can findacross the grass,with each step Stop it Stop This isn’t right I shouldn’t be feeling this upset over the fact that I’uy or that he just ruined our plan to live together I never wanted to in the first place, yetat , but I don’t I take even strides, one by one, like I’et anywhere

"Violet wait" Luke chases afterme to a stop "I know you’re upset but--"

"I’h, but it sounds sharp and off pitch "I just need to figure out where I’ to stay"

He reels ood, but thanks" I tug back, but not hard enough to get me anywhere Instead I’ like eht

"Stay" Is all he says as the space between us disappears I can feel the heat from his body and maybe my own as he lures me closer until our chests brush Jesus, I think ot hard "It’ll work out… we can share a roo to share a rooh of that this ?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean "

He scansto find it, whatever it is "I can handle a cranky Violet I’ve been doing it for weeks"

"Yeah, but you get breaks," I say, confused I don’t get why he’s being so nice and determined to help"This time you wouldn’t I’d be there twenty-four/seven, while you’re sleeping, eating, taking a shower"