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“Dude, is there hot grease in that thing?”

“It’s hot in here” He nods “Won’t hurt you”

I h the trees I was so distracted earlier when I got out of the Jeep, I left my Marlboros in there

I don't need the cigarettes, though Every second I keeptoward the Jeep takes me farther from DG and that fuck Arnie Who nae dude coer? Wait—but Arniea small-town loser

Walking through the woods alone at night, hearing the pine straw crackling under y country y air, and I can hear the noise of people talking on the big porch that’s tacked on the back side of the cabin

I grab hter I think of DG in the car when I clime Because he hates that I'm a liar, or because I said the shit with us is over?

I light a cigarette and s where Greene is working on the catfish Heto show ritting my molars Then it's back inside to find that my plan didn’t work The pool table has been commandeered by Cara, Landry, and soht As soon as the girls see me, Cara waves me over

"Listen," she says softly, as I search the room for DG "James is here, and I can tell he's jealous Landry told hi Can you play with us and do so?" she asks The word sounds like flirtin' in her accent

"Sure" I try not to let her hear ame She says, "Pretend I'm a bad shot and you have to help me"

I wink and give her a rakish grin—right at the moment a door at the back of the room opens, and Arnie, Miller, Marcel, and a couple others co: a card table

They start playing cards The gao Ja Cara and ive hihtly behind Cara, helping her adjust her pool stick I can't help brushing my lips over the nape of her neck