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What more could my father possibly want now?

I’nore the su for th of the hall toward the distant double doors that lead to the here Dad’s office is located By the tied me a second time overhead, and my stomach clenches I hope eto Dad’s attention

I hope I don’t get into trouble for es to lecture me

I hope a lot of things, really

I reach his office door just as it’s swinging open, and when it does, I freeze on the threshold,in my throat

“Maggie!” Russ looks, if possible, even ed into per brow, Russ’s only wrinkles are the faint laugh lines around the corners of his eyes He smiles at me now, his salt-and-pepper hair still full and trih to show the sahout it It only adds to the sharp edge of his jawline, the high angles of his cheekbones

His face softens when he sees“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? You’re looking eous by the day, you know”

Sohout eous But he ht? Like “oh you’re so cute, child ofmore than that, does he?

He doesn’t mean what I want him to mean

Still, I can’t help but notice the way his gaze drops, al me out for a split second, before he recovers and steps aside, to allow me access into my father’s office

“John, I’ll talk to you later tonight,” Russ calls over his shoulder, andinaudible in response “Careful,” Russ adds to me, sotto-voice “He’s in a mood”

“Believe h to trade conspiratorial grins with Russ before I slip past hiainst his,his forearh to make me stumble in my tracks

Get it together, Maggie I need to deal with et swept under by the crush I’ve nursed since h school, when Russ caular pool parties, stripped off his shirt and dove straight into the deep end Watching hih that salt-and-pepper hair, a huge sular face…