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"Hey, they have like a hundred-year shelf life How’s the art?" I finally asked, since we seeood I do a lot of freelance stuff That job at the hospital that you convinced e for snowballed into uess I owe you a thanks," he said, looking dislad it worked out You’re an a artist and should be treated as such"

"What about you? Did you get your degree in ele part-ti until a full-ti the kids?" he asked,me chuckle that he remembered

"It’s not like it’s intentional My boss teases s orderly At least eleed kids don’t scare as easily as the kids at the daycare," Iback to the days when he and I had dated I orking part-ti joke with my co-workers how the babies all see, but I guess a serious tone of voice was just as frightening Anytime the other teachers lost control of their classes, I was the one they called Justin andhilarious and nicknaeant" The only kid who ever seemed immune to my voice was Justin’s sister, Hollie

"You’re lucky You seem like you’ve been able to put it out of your uish I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or cordial

For ahiut It fully presumptuous of hi, it consuuess, because the pain tapered off to where I would only think of it a handful of tio a whole day without thinking about it He was an asshole to think I’d ever be able to forget Let alone move on

14

Thanksgiving 2010

"I changeddown on my bed as Justin paced the narrow floor in front of e yourforward to seeing you"

"I’m sure I’ll be over there in the next few days Just not today"

"Why not today?" Justin i his hand over his hair in frustration

"Because"

"Because? What the hell kind of answer is because? Because why?"

"Because" I dragged out "Spending the holidays with your fa a couple does when they’ve been dating for a couple of years, not weeks For God’s sake, we haven’t even made it past third base"

"Third base? Does anyone still use that terhed

"Shut up, jerk You knohat I ht now," he answered, sweeping his eyes around ht before to spend the four-day holiday with her folks She wanted me to come with her, but I was too broke to buy a plane ticket, so I lied and told her I’d be spending the holiday with Justin and his faesture? Besides, your fa you," I said weakly as he approachedbetweenoff the side of the bed His hands gently cuppedinside me came to life as he slowly lowered me back on my bed He moaned with desire as his lips foundits way beneath h ainst my lips

"Mmm-hmm," was my only answer as I shifted so he could lie fully on top of uy whose every touch lefthis hand slightly lower so his fingers slipped just inside the band of my jeans

I nodded, unable to speak as the sensations from his touch muddled ainst the sensitive skin of my lower stomach made my body arch in a silent plea forto skip third base and slide into ho his lips frolassy-eyed stare that he wanted me as badly as I wanted his around hiainst me My eyes fluttered closed as he crushed his lips to ed out of control I pulled at his clothes, wanting the last barrier gone that separated fooling around from sheer ecstasy He had his shirt halfway off when a fatone blared fro me the phone, which displayed "Home" on the Caller ID

"Yes?" he answered in a strained voice

"Are you on your way back?" I could clearly hear his mom thanks to our close proxis," he answered, grinning devilishly I pinched his aret hih she couldn’t see us, it felt weird to be getting it on with her on the phone

"That’s fine, but I need you guys to pick up a can of cranberry sauce frorandpa insists that the canned version is the only good kind"

"No proble off me

"Thanks, son Love you"

"Love you too," he answered, ending the call "You ready?" he asked, looking down at me where I was still sprawled out on the bed

"What part of ‘I’’ did you not understand?"

"You have to HollieYou wouldn’t want to crusha hand down and hauling me to my feet

"Why does she likemy feet into ht career choice for you?"