page28 (1/2)

Bryce’s face turns more serious “Maybe,” he says “What if two people are in love with each other, and neither knew about the other? What then?”

My breath catches inwhat I think he’s saying He absolutely can’t So I shove the thought away before it can take hold “I don’t know,” I say “Sounds like those two people were reallyout”

“Yes, they were”

After the graduation party, when I woke up feeling humiliated and eet out of there before I ruined everything That being in love with somebody who didn’t knoasn’t worth the pain

So I shut those emotions down But can I pretend that they ever really went away? Would I have been looking for hi if I had been able to let go?

Do I still love Bryce?

I tell myself that I don’t That all this is, is the rerow to love hi of sensation of freefall inI can’t think about it, and I stop that thought in its tracks before I can give it a chance to take hold

“So, will you go with me?”

The question brings me back, and it actually takesabout The baby shower Marcy Right “What if soether? If someone tells my parents…or my dad”

“I’ve seen the guest list,” he says “I’m pretty sure there’s no one on it that knows your family besides my immediate family”

“The store…”

He cuts me off with a look “Elle can handle it for a day I’ve seen her work She’s extremely capable, and I already know that you trust her If you’re not ready to go, Katti, you can tell me I won’t be offended”

I hesitate There’s a lot that makesjust because of anxiety That’s no way to live “If you really think that she won’t o with you”

He grins down at o to a baby shower Marcy is a really wonderful person, but I don’t I have much of a friendship with her outside of Facebook, and the obligatory yearly ‘happy birthday!’this et behind