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“What?” Her eyes widened and her lips parted as she shook her head “No, I didn’t mean to”

I couldn’t even string out the teasing with how miserable she sounded

“It was a joke, Frenchie” A ripple of hesitation between us I pulled a bit of lint off her coat The perfect cover for lettingwe’d pull out the win” I took the box fro her use it as a buffer between us My day was shitty, but there was one balet I’d even played today

“Next tie” She kept her eyes trained on the nu Game’ or ‘Great Uniform’”

“You plan on coht freckles across the bridge of her nose The ones I’d first seen in the greenhouse and kept discovering new ones Tiny little footprints across the tops of her cheeks I wanted to know everything else about her I hadn’t seen yet What else was there to discover about Jules? I wanted to write the encyclopedia

“If a certain player can get aze bounced up and away again

I didn’t want that I wanted her gaze onout for me as much as mine yearned for hers

“That can be arranged, especially if you keep proame treats Consolation or celebration, I’m up for them anytime”

Her laugh caht stutter “That could be interpreted as a little dirty”

I’d hire a damn skywriter if that’s what it took

“If it still needs interpretation, er under her chin

Her gaze lifted away from the box to meet mine “Clearer?”

“Much” I set the box on the floor—for once food was the last thing I was thinking about, but that didn’t mean I didn’t appreciate all her tih tiot before they made it into anyone’s hands

My adrenaline pu away now that ere off the field I wasn’t going to play the ga for the win

I droppedone hand into her hair, letting ers wind around her silky, inky curls