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When he nods, Mom adds, “At least let na That is, if you think she’ll take it”

Asher smiles sympathetically Mary Anne, Asher’sout, Mom was closer to Mary Anne than she was Rayna, Liaured out why she chose Liam’s mom over Asher’s It’s a shaan to avoid us Soet away Noe never see her

“Moe is on the fritz Even if I did bring soo bad Thank you anyway” Asher reaches out and touches Mos towards her about the way things went down, he hides it well

“Thanks for the ride” I quickly step towards Asher and hold

I’ him from any more aardness fro like stars in the sky as he leans in I expected our eoes all out He squeezeshis lips to a tender spot underwith a strange, unwanted case of longing I like the way it feels, being in his arms

Asher puts his hel his amethyst eyes “See you tomorrow, Ellie Bye, Mrs Walker”

Asher slides the face shield down again and brings his bike to life Mom and I watch as he drives away and eventually disappears out of sight I’oing toAsher’s ridiculous plan For soht when he’s around

Mo about Asher and e, it’s scary”

It’s hard to picture Derek Heiter as a teenager The ht, if you tried to shove a stick up his ass, it would break I bite back a laugh but then remember, I’m not supposed to know the secret of Asher’s father “You knoho Asher’s dad is?”

“What?” Mom jumps and looks at me wide-eyed “No Of course not Mary Anne never told any of us who he was Why?”

I shake ine Asher would lie about Derek It would be too weird, but it’s still hard to believe that Derek and Mary Anne had a secret affair I didn’t expect Mom to tell me the truth about Asher's dad, but it would have been nice if she could shed soht on the situation “No reason, but you looked at Asher like you’d seen a ghost”

Mom chuckles and throws her arm aroun

d“It felt like it The last titails I vote you stop growing I don’t think I can take much more of it”

“Mom” I roll my eyes and pull out of her embrace “You say that every year”

“And every year I mean it more”