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Annie adjusted her shoulders and sht, time for a little celebration” Because despite herfor ed to pull off her drea

“That’s the spirit!” Jen took a drink and scanned the room “Now, let’s find some men to celebrate with”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Annie said She knew the men of this town and they knew of her, or rather of her nity

“Well, get ready, because we just got another round” Jen smiled and raised her drink to the handful of men in the corner

“They bought us a round?” Annie asked, completely confused

“Yep, they sure did” Jen stirred the little straw in her cosmo

“But that’s Ricky Thrown” His father owned House of Throwns Toilet and Plu, and his was one of the better-known and well-respected families of Sweet Hill He also never spoke to Annie, not since twelfth-grade science class when he’d tried cheating off her paper and looking down her shirt all at the same time

Annie glanced over her shoulder Sure enough, he was s in her direction

“I think he likes you” Jen nudged her

“He toilet-papered randmother’s trailer”

“That was in high school”

Before Annie could arguewith a practiced smile

“Hey, Annie Looking good tonight” He openly ogled her legs and breasts “Tell ” He leaned over her and put his hand on the bar, boxing her in “What’s a guy gotta do to get a taste of your pie?” Ricky barely got the words out before he started laughing so hard some spit landed on Annie’s face She wiped her cheek and didn’t even have a chance to tell hi back to his buddies, ere also laughing and now pulling out five-dollar bills and handing them to him

“I survived an encounter with White Trash Thoh for everyone to hear over the music

“Go to hell!” Jen yelled back

“Forget it,” Annieat Ricky

Annie looked around and sahat she did every ti

Most of theht-up white trash While she had her mother’s build—tall, lean, and stacked—boys had er to assume she was just like her enerally steered clear ever since she bit Anthony Swank’s lip when he tried to kiss her in the ninth grade