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Today – two days after the date in the cabin – I walk down the street toward the bus stop, ready for another day at college My classes are going well and today’s is easilyover ht and sunny

I reach the bus stop and place lad to have the pressure off my shoulder

Across the street, somebody honks their horn twice

A s suddenly dissipating as I look up to find Bennet leaning out of the driver’s side of his sedan, his classic smirk on his face

He steps out and walks to the passenger side, opening the door, presu if it was for somebody else

“Are you stalking h as I step away from the bus stop

His eyes flare and he reaches out, as though to touch me But then I take a step back and his hands drop

It’s like he rehborhood, and my dad – or somebody my dad knows – could spot us at any moment

“I wanted to surprise you,” he says “I know you catch this bus because Rick’s uess I stored it away because I kneould come in use someday”

The mention of my dad only serves to remind me how messy this is, but I don’t let it overcome the moment

After two days of being apart frohtness blaring inside and out as Bennet stares at me in that nobody-else-matters kind of way

“That’s a little creepy,” I say, laughing “And more than a little sweet”

“Coive you a ride”

He gestures to the passenger side and I climb in I ache to reach across and touch him, but there are still a few people at the bus stop, folks I vaguely recognize frohborhood

“I missed you so much,” I whisper, as he pulls away from the curb “I’m sorry we can’t kiss”

“I missed you too,” he says “More than I could even understand You were all I could think about I didat the edges ofback into the city more than once”

“I felt the sa