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“Wrong? About what?”

“My very short-lived hiatus froive theht one” The words are accoht I wanted to be alone—I wouldn’t do that to you Lead you on, I mean” Lilly takes a dainty bite of bread and chews slowly “This is so good”

She still hasn’t answered my question

To keep ain, I stuff sooes down like cardboard, aled in my throat

“I think that…yes I would like to try to be your girlfriend We can label it, can’t we? While we’re just starting to date?” More chewing and sing “Then we don’t have the confusion later Don’t have to worry about having ‘the talk’” She uses air quotes around the last phrase “Yes I want to be your girlfriend—I would be proud to date you”

Proud to date me

I sit up straighter in my seat as the server co special tonight?”

Lilly and I exchange a look

“Um, yeah” My words are less articulate than what I’et used to the fact that she strikesour new relationship”

EPILOGUE

ROMAN

“Honey, I have soive you—take these and put them in your pocket”

Before I can ask what she’s doing,open the pocket of ht red as she shoves so at me

“I would give them to Lilly herself but don’t want to e before you leave and she’ll be none the wiser”

“Uh—what are these?”

I go to pull them out but stop short when my moiving, and I’ on the floor”

“Oh od” I shove them back inside my pocket as far as I can shove them “It’s n-not…we didn’t…”

I mean—yeah, we fooled around, but there was no penetration if you don’t count tongues and fingers

“I should hope not—not under“But I will say this: it’s good to see you behaving like a nor fun Dad and I orried you took school too seriously to ever let yourself fall in love this young”

Fall in love?