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“Why what?”

“Why do you want to help me?”

I didn’t even pause “Because you’re worth helping”

Reese

I stood staring at the door in wonder long after Mase had left

I didn’t understand why he thought I orth helping, but he did An unfahto vanish I liked it too much So I stood perfectly still and enjoyed it

I was still gripping my phone in my hand He had taken it from me and added his number to my contacts He’d even taken a photo of the boots he earing so that it would appear on the screen when he called I wouldn’t have to worry about trying to read his na

Sht about the selfie Jimmy had taken when he had added his nu a picture of himself So different froine Mase had ever taken a selfie

I liked Mase Manning I liked him a lot Even more than Jiood thing Mase was nice to me, but he didn’t like me the way I liked him I could tell by the way he treated me Maybe that hy I felt so safe with him, because I liked hi the same way He didn’t even live here, after all

My heart sank

Shaking hts, I putworked up over this was silly Mase was going to try to help h I orried that I couldn’t be helped, I had to hope What if soe everything I could do so o to college

With a newfound determination, I picked up my newest picture book froet through this one today I could do this Mase had faith in me I just needed more faith in myself

Three hours later, I was almost finished with my book My head ached, andThe knock on ot pistachio ice cream and two spoons”

S, I tucked the book away under the sofa and went to let Jimmy in

He was s up two spoons, he sashayed into the rooood

I closed the door and turned to look at him

“I’ll admit it now,” he said “This is a bribe I want to know all about your interactions with Mase Colt Manning Every last, delicious detail Indulge me, please That man stars in several of my fantasies”

A laugh bubbled up out of me Jimmy winked and sank down on the sofa