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Thoughts that went from X-rated to kind of pissed off to confused—and all of them were about Monroe

I’d thought about how a it had felt to hold her and how ht of her laugh and the way it lightened everything, especially the heaviness inside me

And I thought about Malcolm

Who was he? A friend? A boyfriend?

I wanted her to share her secret withto bet that Monroe would only come around when she was ready And maybe she would never be ready

“So when exactly are you collecting your prize?”

Monroe’s voice cut through rinned

“Tonight”

“Tonight? But it’s nearly ht and I’m already in bed”

“Really,” I said,“And what does Monroe Blackear to bed?”

She giggled, a soft, girlish sound that ut churn with anticipation

“Guess you’ll never know”

I grabbed my knapsack from my bed and shook my head “Don’t count on it See you in a bit”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Guess you’ll have to wait and see,” I answered before pocketingout of my room