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But I’d like to think I rub off on Jimmy, too I believe a part of hi ranch

My voice lowers to so and say, “I’m sorry about that, buddy I didn’t know”

Jiirls in et a taste of my own medicine at some point”

My hand is still on his leg, a perfect handful of his tight and shapely calf I didn’t intend to enjoy “It’s still gotta sting, though I really wish I knew that that had happened”

“Why?”

He keeps staring at the TV while he talks to ht not have been as nice to her when I ran into her at the UC food court our last day”

“Nah I wouldn’t want you to do that”

I lift an eyebrow “Why not?”

“You don’t got a mean bone in you, Bobby Parker”

I smile at the back of his head, touched

“I’irls for the sule-dude-datin’-every-chick-in-sight song and dance Why put h that?”

“Yeah!” I cheer him on “There’s the Jimmy I know!”

He sits up at once and puts hiainst the foot of the bed Our sides press together as he claiainst—or rather, steals that half froonna be us this summer, buddy”

Ji in for one of those half high-five, half handshake bro things he does

I grin, clasp his hand, and give it a firm shake “Just us”

The TV takes our attention when another du at it along with Jiainst h as we share unequal halves of that pillow, and our night stretches into the wee hours ofbefore we crash

4

JIMMY

I pull up against the curb, then turn off the engine

“You sure you don’t wanna—?” I start to ask

Bobby is already out of the truck with the door slah my sentence

—just head back to your place and play souess either he didn’t hear me, or his mind is made up already