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ONE

Up, down Round and around Rinse and repeat That was our pattern That was our world

With a guy like Jude Ryder at her This was our reality, our storyour love story We fought; we ized We lived; we learned Jude and I had made a lot ofays see love for each other

This was my life

And you knohat?

Life was pretty daood

Even despite the fact that I had no clue where I was

“What are you up to?” I whispered back to Jude, continuing to let him lead me into the black hole

“So an to echo around me

So ere in a tunnel, but what tunnel was totally beyond me, because Jude had madeOther than driving around in his ancient ruht, I’d lost irl could ever lose them

Given the fact that Jude Ryder was s had been a tad off-kilter for the past few years, but they were especially off the grid tonight

Did this tunnel have an end? The longer we continued down it, the louder my footsteps echoed around us

“Is whatever you’re up to illegal?” I asked, not sure I really wanted to know

“Is that a trick question?” he said, sounding amused

“Is that a trick answer?”

He didn’t respond immediately Instead, I felt his mouth warm the skin at the base of my neck One full breath out, and one full breath in, slow and deep and suffocating, before his lips grazed the heated patch of skin

I tried not to react like his touch was hardwired to drive every bit of ether, Jude could still unravel oose bumps that trailed down to my lower back when his mouth pulled away

“There will ht that could be classified as illegal in every one of the Bible Belt states,” he said, his voice loith desire Not quite as rough as it got when he needed h that I kneasn’t going to throwup ot a step farther “Does that answer your question?”

“No,” I said, trying to sound controlled Trying to sound like he hadn’t made my stomach clench with desire from one kiss “It doesn’t answer ain” I clearedto sound unaffected “In whatever never-ending hallway you’re leadingto wind up at, could either one of these trespasses be considered illegal if ere to be tried in court?”

He didn’tto contain a chuckle One of those low, ruh ainstme suddenly His hands left my shoulders and tapped my eyelids “Yes It could be However,” he said, “they’d have to catch us first Open your eyes, babe”

I blinkedwas real

After another half dozen blinks, I could be reasonably certain that whatin was, in fact, real

We were inside the Carrier Dome, just at the mouth of one of the tunnels However, this was the do alht at the fifty, a blanket was spread out, and what looked like a picnic basket rested in one corner A s of white candles in clear jars were dotted around the blanket It was still, silent, and peaceful

Not the first three words you’d usually use to describe a college football arena

And this wasn’t the place a girl expected her fiancé would take her on a big surprise date he’d wanted her to get dressed up for

I grinned

Not what I’d expected, but exactly what I wanted

“What do you think? This worth ‘illegal’?” he asked, winding his ar his chin over my shoulder

I couldn’t take my eyes off the candlelit scene in front of me A picnic on the fifty-yard line

I knew it irls, but it hit the nuirl

“It’s only illegal if we get caught,” I answered, turningfree of his ar over to the blanket

This was the first tied our freshe, but it really did seeo I’d discovered another one of life’s clichés by being with Jude: The happier you are in life, the faster it passes you by Life was one sick bastard if happy people were repaid with a life that see life, it didn’tup Jude either way

At the twenty-five-yard line, I spun around, continuing to jog backward Jude was still at theas enamored by me as he had on the day he’d confessed his love That look, uy’s look was supposed to “get” to his girl