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She said it so simply, like it was inevitable, so I just nodded I realized I was in deep with Nate the night after the eency room visit e lay wrapped in each other’s arms Probably even before that

We’d seen one another several days since then in e from him, uess so in but the project felt natural Fulfilling Perfect "You’re probably right"

"Does he feel the saed because I wasn’t coht not be ready to take the next step with me "I hope so"

"What does your heart say?" she asked, her eyes a reflection of mine

"It says yes," I whispered as it rapped uncoainst my chest

"The heart doesn’t lie," she said "And you have so h a lot But the way that boy looks at you"

She kissed my cheek, which had becoroup ofby The street had been roped off for the festival, so soet to their destination

I spotted Nate’s brother, Luke, in the est one in the bunch but he walked with a surety I lacked at tiht his, I tipped my chin and he offered a wave and a sesture alone toldin the past feeeks, as a hu

"I’ll be back to take over the booth in half an hour," I told my classmate before I left my post I walked down the roith rabbed a stack of fliers and began handing the beyondI turned to see Nate and his --as if someone had suddenly vacuumed out all of the air in the entire universe

He wore loose jeans and an expensive black T-shirt that stretched across his ood--ame, but there was also a hint of sadness behind her eyes She’d been through so much in the last month, let alone the last several years of her life No bruises were visible on her neck, but I wondered if she still felt their presence

As we stood talking for a bit, Nate and I seeazes froschool on Front Street, Nate noticed that I earing nia He leaned over and sang softly inon"

It was one of onna be your nurinned stupidly at each other before I said, "Thank God you’ll have your engineering degree to fall back on when your singing career goes south"

He laughed, shoving his hands in his front pockets, and nudging my foot with his own

"I don’t knohat your plans are today," I heard my mom say to Mrs Connors "But I only have to work this booth for another hour Would you like to grab some lunch?"

Mrs Connors looked ratefully She looked at Nate, whose mouth was tipped up in appreciation He’d been so worried about his mom