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Who cares?? That’s the least ofout here? What’s on his mind? What does he think of the cast list? A slew of questions fillanswers

And of all of them to spill from my lips, this one does: “Do you like it here?”

“Huh?”

What a stupid question What a stupid, stupid question “I, uh … I can’t iuy In a place like this”

Ait skittering ahead “It’s alright”

“Are you mad?” I blurt out, unable to help myself

Vann frowns down at the road, not looking at me “What?”

My heart is racing like I’ to killToday The … The cast list Me as ‘Danny’ You as ‘Kingsley’”

He lets a s “Nah Why the hell would I be mad?”

I s My heart races faster “B-Because it means … that … that you and I will, uh … have to—”

“So?” he cuts ht that wasn’t a big deal in this too guys kissing? Is this place so damned backwards it actually does care about that?”

“Uh …” Mind floods with i us His hand on ainst mine and, and, and, and— “N-No, it’s … it’s not … it’s not backwards at all” Did he just say that? It’s no big deal to hi? I literally can’t think of anything else now “Spruce is …” A? What is life? “Spruce is a pretty open and … as I saying? … open and, u place For a small town”

He shrugs “Good” He kicks another pebble, sending it into a nearby gutter to kerplunk in the unknowable water below

We walk in silence for a while My brain is on fire I a on that sa around in n “So you—” I s, cutting myself off “—you really don’t mind?”

He still directs all his words to the pavement “Mind what?”