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Leaning in close, he placed one hand on ertips burned through the thin cotton of my shirt Then in a move so slow, so smooth and calculated, he bent down and brushed his lips over my cheek, a whisper-soft kiss thatfor the real thing

“I’ll see you toether?”

I nodded reeaze burning a hole through the side of my face Not without the feel of Carson’s lips still on my skin And then he turned and bounded up the stairs, past Ethan, atched hio, his eyes narrowed on his back, knife-sharp before he turned to me

I sed, finding enough strength to offer hi of o?” I asked

As we pulled out of the driveway threeI were still inside—with Carson Only aze flickered to the upstairs , to where I saw his shadow, highlighted by the glow of the light fro like everything was okay Like he was still h I’d rather be with his brother

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The remainder of s spent organizing supplies with Carson Time split between two Brooks boys I spent far more time at their house than my own Whether or not h time there to care

Ethan lay back in his bed, tossing a football up in the air, while I sat at his desk chair, filling out a college application “Which school is that for again?” he asked

“Purdue”

Ethan grunted “You haven’t even heard back from Duke yet”

“I know But I can’t just wait around and do nothing Iother applications ready in case I don’t get early acceptance”

A knock on the door interrupted us I turned, and my eyes locked with Carson’s as he leaned inside the doorway, his da his face from his late-day swim A ball of heat curled in my belly and a slow smiled curved my lips

“Hey, you ready to get packing the last of the stuff? Moame?”

“Definitely” I put my paperwork down and stood

Ethan scowled “So you can stop what you’re doing for him?” Then he checked his watch “It’s only five o’clock, and you guys were gone all afternoon shopping Can’t it wait?”