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Abby reement and opened her lunch, as Cammie piped into the conversation beside them

Taking advantage of Cammie’s distraction, Abby turned her attention back to Kaden, whose nose was practically pressed against his book now

Abby grabbed a pretzel and threw it at hi?”

When he flashed her the cover, Abby pursed her lips, iuy”

He shrugged “I like the distraction, the escape froreat for the heart”

Abby chuckled “I’ll take your word for it”

Kaden set his book aside and unwrapped a peanut butter and jelly sandwich; Abby watched hiet in trouble with your dad yesterday? Like, once he got ho by?”

Kaden shrugged “It was nothing I couldn’t handle”

For aselfish—sharing this secret with him She had been relieved to confide in so a partner abated so skeleton in the closet But at what cost was this for him?

“You knoe can just forget it I can handle this on my own We can still be friends and—”

“Nope,” he said, shaking his head “I want to help you” His voice trailed off, and he narrowed his eyes as if re “Wait a second I was too distracted by the files, and I never asked you what my dad said to you when he pulled you aside He did this, didn’t he? He said

so if maybe I shouldn’t help you”

Abby opened her mouth towhat? Defend Mr Oliver?

“Well, sorta But that wasn’t the only thing,” she said, as Kaden’s jaw hardened “He realized Laorking for randmother, and I think he knoanted information for more than just a school project”

“Crap I told you He’s like a huhts, then shrugged “Eh, well He’ll have to just deal with us hanging out because I’ anywhere Also, don’t even try to friend zone me with this ‘we can still be friends’ crap”