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“I know ”

Mia rolled onto her side and looked at Lexi “I have a secret About Tyler and me ” She paused “We did it ”

Lexi rolled over to face Mia “It? You did it?”

Mia’s face was so close Lexi could smell the beer on her breath and the floral scent of her shaht “He said he loved me I know it’s true now ”

“Details!” Lexi said, trying to keep her voice a whisper As she listened to Mia’s story, Lexi couldn’t help thinking about Zach and how much she loved him, and she wished she hadn’t pushed him away now

“I guess you’re officially the last virgin in our class,” Mia finally said

Lexi closed her eyes, feeling strangely adrift, as if she’d missed some boat that everyone else was on What if Zach only said he understood her reluctance? What if someday he just … found someone else to love?

Beside her, Mia started to snore

Lexi thought about sneaking out of bed and going to Zach’s room She’d never done that before—she’d promised both Jude and Mia that she wouldn’t do it—and usually it was an easy proht, she felt his absence keenly They had so little tiether It was late December already No matter what they all said—what they drea in September, they would only see one another on breaks If then

She closed her eyes and drea the times on their beach …

“Lexi LEXI ”

She came aith a start

Zach was peering down at her, his blond hair falling forward “Come with me ”

She took his hand It was just that sier to his lips, said sshhh as they tiptoed down the hall toward his room

She could have stopped him, pulled back as she’d done soback felt silly Whatever he wanted, she wanted She couldn’t bear the thought that sheto hi her