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"Sometimes I can feel the violence in people," he continued, "and soht I was the one anted to pound our server’s face in, and it freakedmine I can feel evil in so about my ability" He shuddered and closed his eyes for a ain, he looked at ly my knees almost buckled"

I frowned "When did you first see ave et out of Mrs C’s truck But then you got out I’ve nevercloser I could feel his breath onafter proretted anything more" He leaned closer "You like it when I hold your hand I can feel the heat rise under your skin when I get a little too close to you And the fear And the ht now, you’d probably kiss , slid his hand under ainst the bare skin on the back of my neck, and leaned even closer Our noses almost touched "But I also felt how scared you were in the restaurant a few ," he whispered "And right now fear is your strongest emotion I don’t mean to scare you" He pulled his hand away, turned, and started the car I started to breathe again

"And now, I feel your relief," he said and sh his eyes were dark and stor fried chicken froer’s coht accidentally give soht to end, or that hewhat his lips would feel like against ht ine or atteie," he called out his openas I ht yard I paused and looked at hiht"

"And don’t be afraid of h his dark hair

"I’ll try"

18

I ake long before er O’Connell to go back to sleep It was like I’d been eating bread and water ave er was the cake And I liked how it tasted so well, I never wanted to go back to bread and water But bread and water was safe Chocolate cake? Totally dangerous

What if Bridger could sense how I craved hi attached … again No, that was a definite understateroaned and pulled the pillow over hts, like how much fertilizer the chickens could produce in a week

A knock at my door woke me I pulled the pillow from my head, blinkedof chocolate cake and chickens Soain

"Yeah?" I called

The door opened and Mrs Carpenter peered at me "You’ve slept late," she said

I sat up and looked at h e clothes

Class had been in session fifteen h the door to the track and found Bridger staring atout at that very moment A sgie Mae," Coach said, looking at his watch

I walked to the gathered students, careful to keep ainst the track A pair of running shoes stopped beside ht?" Even his voice huess I kept you out sort of late"

I dug y I’d ever seen

"Maggie?" His voice was so gentle, so full of concern, I had to gritto his face He reached out and put a finger under aze, war hiot to stop letting fear be the ruling eht my bottom lip in ie Mae, Bridger, I hate to break up your precious er’s hand left my chin "But since you were tardy, Ms Mortensen, you’re running laps" The whole track teaer and lowed But before I could say a word Coach blurted, "There’s no use arguing with ht, Yana and I worked the dining room at the Navajo Mexican It was too busy to talkdrinks at the soda dispenser, shesuch an idiot?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked

"O’Connell The story is he practically kissed you in front of the track teaotten he walked out on you at proivable"

"I know, but he’s …" As te as chocolate cake

"He’s what? Hot? Rich? Sood?"