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"Maybe she doesn’t want you to know" He pauses, considering the possibilities "Because she’s dating her swi instructor and she doesn’t think you’ll approve of hi an affair with a professor and the only place they canpool after hours where they can have sex in the water"

I suddenly get a picture of the time Quinton and I almost had sex in the water I was confused at the ti about hag sx with hi and makes my stomach somersault

But I tryout of his mouth doesn’t have any effect on me "You sound so scandalous Has that older lady that you’ve been helping out been ain?"

"Yeah, so to show?"

"Yeah, kind of," I reply "How is Mrs Bellington doing?"

"Good Although her fa home the other day clear across town so it’s really hard for me to visit her," he says, then pauses "You know, she kind of reminds me of you"

"A seventy-year-old woman reminds you of me" I frown, taken aback a little "Wow, I feel kind of stupid right now"

"Don’t be," he says "It’s a compliment And besides, she reminds me of you because of soer"

I relax a little "Like what?"

"Like how she spent time in the Peace Corps"

"I’ve never been in the Peace Corps, though"

"Yeah, but I could easily see you being a volunteer, going around, trying to help the world," he says, hisNova peace everywhere"

"Is that really how you seea little uncoht see ooder?"

"In the best way possible" His tone is ood person, Nova Reed Too good to be talking to ue defensively "You’re perfect for me" I shake uiring it like Tristan did the other day "Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to come out the way it sounded"

"It’s okay You can call it payback forcheesy earlier, but I think I’m just a little on emotional overload between this phone chat and our text conversation earlier You’re giving et really nervous about how I’ the shit out ofand if I listen really closely I can hear the scratching of a pencil across paper I wonder if he’s drawing and, if he is, what he’s drawing a picture of "So would you ?"

We started the song thing a week ago, when Quinton askedhiht since then, I’ve picked out a song and we’ve listened to it together before I hung up

Honestly, I’, but if that’s what he needs then I’ll give it to hio over to ood, but what kind of one do you want for tonight? Happy? Sad? Angsty?"

"How about aone?" he requests "Because I think I need to chillax a little"

"Hmm…" I consider my options, then scroll to one that I hope will relax hi over the play button

"Yep, hit hs at his own joke, since the other night I picked "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar