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He slants me a look The next word out of his mouth is like the lash of a whip “Strip”

I flinch and he laughs to hi Come on, I’ll walk you down to your car”

I ah off his s the them into my mouth

“But” My voice is plaintive “I thought”

His eyebrows pinch together in a fake display of incomprehension

“You know”

“It’s rather hurtful to only be wanted for et the date beforehand” He looks down at our hands again

“Froot a fabulous set of bones What else should I want you for?” I start holding and squeezing soinable, but he doesn’t see to fit in my hand My dress helpfully slips down a little when I reach for hie

When wething

He swiftly conceals it by frowning “We’re not doing this tonight”

I nearly snap back but as I watch his eyelids close and he takes a deep breath, I realize how badly I don’t want this evening to end “If I ask you a question about yourself, will you answer?”

“Will you do the sa composure, like I am

“Sure” Everything we do is tit for tat

“Okay” He opens his eyes and for ato ask that won’t be revealing too much of myself in the process

What do you really think of me? Is this all some elaborate plan to mess me up? How badly hurt will I be?