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“You’re not sick”

Her eyes narrow “You don’t know that”

“I know you don’t have a fever, and you haven’t had to use that tissue a single time since your first dramatic nose wipe”

“Dra me a liar?”

I liftyou anything I just know you’re not sick, and I really want to take you fishing”

“No, you are calling me a liar I’m not stupid, Mason,” she says, but she doesn’t sound nearly as outraged as the old Lark would have The old Lark took great pride in her honesty “If you’re going to insult uts to own it”

“All right” I step closer, bracingher within the circle ofin a way that has ain Instead, I whisper, “Unless I’et out of going on a second date with me But the real question is…why? What are you afraid of?”

She huffs “I’”

“Really?” I prod gently “It’s okay to be afraid I’m afraid all the tiood stuff”

The skin between her brorinkles “But is this the good stuff?”

I lean closer, until I can feel her breath on my lips andwith you”

“Nothing?” she echoes in a breathy whisper

“Nothing,” I assure her

Her gaze flicks froue slips out to wet her lips, s low in my body twist God, hoant to taste her, to pull her so close her breasts are pressed tight to my chest and her—

“You have to go, Mason,” Lark says, her words ice water poured down the back of my shirt

I flinch “What?”

“You have to go I can’t do this I can’t…” She ss hard and shakes her head “I thought I could, but I just want to enjoyup every dayme feel all…” Her eyes squeeze closed “I just can’t, okay?”

“Making you feel all what?”