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“Hello, Jesse”

He almost dropped his bowl at the sound of Julia’s husky purr co from the shadows in the corner of the porch

Her face was lost in the dark, but her bare legs were stretched out, her toes curled over the railing The streetlight hit her skin and those old dust

“I thought you’d be asleep, I’ll go back—” He moved to retreat into the safety of inside, away fros and her husky voice

“Stay” Her soft voice floated from the darkness “Please”

“Ah” His s, the dark, the living breathing heat that existed between them This was a suicide mission if ever there had been one

“Please, Jesse Stay out here with me”

He nodded “Sure” I’ next to her delicate toes He noticed the chipped red nail polish, so girlish and at the sao grab a chair”

He ducked back in the house “Such an idiot,” he rabbed a cracked vinyl chair from the kitchen and carried it outside

Eucalyptus and the tru at the corner of the house turned the air sweet and spicy He tried not to watch as Julia recrossed her legs at the ankle

“What are you doing out here?” he asked, settling doith his dinner

“I couldn’t sleep”

Night sounds filled the silence between the and shifting Jesse realized the dog was curled up by Julia Her hand reached out of the darkness that shrouded her body and she absently stroked his ears

“Don’t spoilto crack the tension

“So” He heard the affection in her voice and he couldn’t help but smile

“Well, we do e can”

“I thought you ry…” She pointed at the bowl in his lap “It’s sort of a poor man’s chili You don’t have to eat it if you don’t like it”