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“Walker was the one who rescued you before, right?”

Keira thought about it, then realized there was no reason not to tell him, and nodded

A lad he was there I would have hated losing the best partner I ever had”

Keira felt a lu at the back of her eyes She waited until both subsided before saying, “I’ve only had one partner, so saying you’re the best partner I ever had doesn’t sayat the back of her eyes returned “But I hope you kno I feel about you—I couldn’t have had a better partneror teacher I owe you a lot, more than I can ever tell you”

“Thanks” He polished off the last of his sandwiches, then took her empty plate with his into the kitchen He came back with a couple of freshly washed apples and handed one to her “So, are you in love with him?”

“What?” she gasped

Trace’s teeth bit into his apple with a crunching sound “You heard me,” he said “So, are you in love with Walker?”

Keira looked at her apple, then at Trace “Yes,” she said in a breath of a whisper

“Well that’s good, since the poor guy is hopelessly in love with you”

“How do you know that?”

Trace chuckled “I’ve got eyes into see it, either He tries to hide it, just as you do, but”

“Does everyone know?” she asked in dismay

“Callahan knows, if that’s who youtime, and I’ossip, forget it Only people who know the two of you, who have seen you together, would ever figure it out” He finished the apple, then contemplated the apple core and asked casually, “So, are you sleeping with him?”