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“The truth Tellon”

“What ot to pick you up thisbecause it wasn’t routine, and I didn’t actually think you were co”

He shook his head, eyes steady on hers “You’re hiding so I can tell”

“How? You barely even know me”

He reached out to her, placing his fingers on the side of her throat, then spreading them until his entire hand covered the side of her neck An electric current zipped in her veins, and her breathing hitched The desire to pull away and the urge to ed a war inside her

“What are you doing?”

“The pulse in your neck jumps when you’re nervous I’d like to say it was just from me, but I think it’s ”

She said nothing for a moment as her nerves twisted in her stomach, and the warmth of his touch seared into her skin Her eyes locked on his, and she realized for reasons unknown to her, she trusted hie and at ease si she shouldn’t enjoy but did

The urge to share the burden of the letters and the secret placed in her lap burned through every fiber of her being But Kaden was a huge risk After all, what did she really know about hiht in the park, and their relationship—if you could call it that—had sprung up on her so fast

“I” She trailed off, unsure of how much to share, unsure of where to start

“What is it?” He re her hts But the distance, the separation, knocked her back into reality Her grand Lawson’s h her head like a precautionary sign Tell no one

“I can’t tell you I can’t tell anyone” Running a hand through her thick locks, Abby sighed, stood, and stepped around him “Yes, it’s the reason I was late today and totally flaked on picking you up for school It’s the reason I took zero calc notes and did little classwork I’m pretty sure I failed an elementary health quiz today It’s all I can think about But I can’t tell you what it is I’m sorry”

She stared at hi him to leave, but he didn’t Instead, heoutside Maybe you won’t let me help you with

your secret, but I can help you with calculus”

Before she could say anything, he got up and left the roo two minutes later with his backpack in hand In one s it to the floor and unzipped it, then dug through the contents until he pulled out his notes