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"Can I try soht you’d be er said with relief "You do realize it’s the ht?"

"I wouldn’t be able to sleep even if I had a bed to sleep in" I stifled a yawn

"Why don’t you try theer said, sitting on the sofa I sat down beside hi to s er scooted a few inches away from me and said, "We need to talk"

My heart started to haer took off his shoes and put his feet up on an otto my face "I kno you feel about me"

I sank into the sofa and pressed ers claaze and wished the sofa would sI really like you, too A lot" He let go of my hands and folded his ar, unique, beautiful people I have ever met But I haven’t been fair to either of us I’ht thatmy family come home has made me realize that I need to rededicateon the sleeve of his hoodie and began running it through ers

"Now that school’s out, on’t see each other anyht of never seeing hi is," he continued, "I wanted to let you know I’ less So if you can forgiveout so "

Why had it always been my lot in life to be removed from the people I cared about? I wondered I could already feel Bridger slipping away forever

"Hey, I’ of you but friendship I just … can’t date local girls"

Yeah, I got it No dating

"Why don’t you date local girls?" I asked "Yana told "

"I’round as round? You have to irl?"

He scowled "Not quite More like the saround So that ht Rich people alanted to produce rich offspring I definitely didn’t fit into that stereotype "Sounds like your parents are breeding you Like a racehorse," I said, er frowned and nodded

"Well, invite ht?"

A slow smile spread across his face "You don’t hate me?"

"I suppose not"

Smile still plastered to his face, he turned on aBridger andthe ht shone on my closed eyelids, but I didn’t open er’s roo over the hardwood floor A wo the sweatshirt I got him in Italy I kneas more than a casual friendship when I sa he looked at her"

"You need to trust hihteen and he knows his duty I can tell he has every intention of follohat he’s been taught"

"I’ Katie stay But what if--?"

"Shh--I think she’s awake"

I opened one eye a crack, watching through er’s parents came to the sofa, bent over the back of it, and each kissed Bridger’s forehead His dad looked atmy eyelids as soft and supple as if I were fast asleep

"Good-bye, son," his mother whispered

They left the rooainstinto a dream that smelled just like …

My eyes popped open A warht draped my shoulder The pillow beneath my cheek ain and I practically jumped out of my skin in er’s black lashes fluttered against his cheeks and he peered at lazed eyes His hand went to his jeans pocket and he re cell phone He pushed a button

"Yeah?" he said, voice groggy His eyes lost their gloss of sleep and he sat up, glancing at et her"

He put a finger to his lips and handed me the phone, then stood and left the rooie Mae, how are you?"

"How am I? How are you? I’ve been so worried"

"I can honestly say I have been better But I’ve also been worse" Mrs Carpenter chuckled "Would you come to the hospital? We need to talk"

I didn’t knohat to say Hospitals were the place where people never saw each other again

"Maggie, dear?"