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Luke srin that splits his handsome face “Damn, you’re beautiful You should smile like that more often”
As if he waved a ic wand, my forced smile becomes a real smile
“Maybe I will,” I say coyly
And I already knoill, as long as Luke is in my life
18
Luke
We walk, not touching in any way but still close together, through the streets of Manhattan People glide past us briskly Everyone’s always in such a hurry in New York I miss that about LA It’s much more casual there
But there are s I don’t miss
My old life, for one
Man, I was a mess
I have lots of red onI can do about it now I can never return to LA
My hand brushes Katelyn’s, and sparks ignite across my skin Just that simple touch of our pinkies
I brush against her again, and this time, she—she—clasps her pinky around my own
Pinkies entwined Just our fucking pinkies And I’m elated Totally elated
I proet involved with a woman so soon Not after…
The injury toI can’t handle Just a dull ache It happens when I think about my previous life When I dwell on what I was
People can change I know that now
Everything I’ve done in ht me to this place Here With Katelyn Our pinkies entwined
Was it worth it? I harmed so many…
One of my favorite pizza vendors is in the distance “Sure I can’t tempt you with a slice?” I ask
“Maybe,” she says “But those New York pizza slices are so big”
“True You fold them over and make your own calzone”
She giggles softly “They’re easier to eat that way, but they’re still huge”
“True enough” We reach the vendor “Hey, Sly”
“Good to see you!” That’s what Sly always says
He’s here at his pizza stand fro slices of the best pizza I’ve ever tasted out of his truck I’ood to see you!”
“You too Two pepperoni slices”
“You got it” He pulls the slices onto tissue Already the grease has saturated the paper Good stuff
“I’ll never be able to eat all of that,” Katelyn says
“Sure you can” Sly winks “Never met any New Yorker who couldn’t put away a slice of Sly’s Even the skinniest models”
“I guess we’ll see” I hand Katelyn her slice, grab about twenty napkins—and I’h—and then pay Sly “Thanks, man”
“Anytime, anytime”