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Suze thrusts her earbuds back in her ears, not even looking at me as she twists her body to scowl out the

I dare ya to stop acting like such a little witch, Suze

A part of me wants to rub it in, to rereat idea if she was trying to make me feel bad

But I guess there’s a part of Suze that’s hurt too

We’re supposed to be riding together, the three of us until ets off Then it’s supposed to just be Suze and me for the rest of the way home

Now?

Having a dare with friends is one thing, but actually being alone with a real life man?

Especially a man of Michael’s caliber

No wonder oes, and it starts with me on the way back to him

He would’ve barely had ti back, but e men

If you’d call Michael strange

I guess he is

Strangely beautiful, handsoe

Did I mention he was handsome?

“I know he’s probably a nice guy and all… Just… Well…just be careful,” Mo her breath

As if she knows so I don’t

“What do you mean, Mom?” I ask naively

She gives me a little smile and tousles my hair

Like she used to when I was a kid

“Oh, Natasha You’ve done a lot in your twenty-one years, but learning about men hasn’t been one of ‘em,” she muses But I’m not offended

It sounds ue about herself than an observation about me

She thinks about saying so else, I can tell, her brow furroith emotion and concentration, but she lets it pass

“I’o And your dad” she trails off, but I’et to where I’ve been ordered to go

To Michael

Why the heck would I want to stop and talk about anything else?

“Just don’t get your hopes up,” ly