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“Ah” Gray sht white teeth and sheepish expression “You know, as I was coency book club ured, what do I know, right? I’m new”

“There could conceivably have been soh Then I shake my head “I’m sorry I lost it like that the other day,” I tell him “Outside Bex’s classroom”

Gray snorts “That was you losing it?” he asks, sitting down on the sagging sofa beside me

I shrug “You knohat I mean”

Gray nods “You can tell ainst the threadbare cushions “If you need space I know I can be, like, a lot soo fuck off’ Easy as that”

I laugh “With respect, obviously”

“The key to any successful relationship,” he shoots back

“Is that what this is?” I ask, before I can think better of it The fluorescent lights overhead feel unforgivingly bright all of a sudden “A relationship?”

Gray raises his eyebrows “You tell me”

I biteif I said I didn’t feel soht a spark inside me, doesn’t fill my heart like a balloon inside my chest On the other hand

“I don’t think you’re a lot,” I tell him finally, which isn’t really an answer to his question “Or I ood way” I reach for his hand, the calluses on his palainst my skin “I would never tell you to fuck off I mean, I’d never tell anyone to fuck off, let’s be real But especially not you”

Gray smiles “Too polite, huh?”

“So like that,” I tell him

“Well,” he says, “you never know You ht surprise yourself Maybe one of these days you’ll snap and start telling people to fuck theht”

“Maybe” I hold up the doughnut bag “Peace offering?”