Page 44 (1/2)

Luke barks out an ah, too "Sorry, yeah, just had a knee-jerk reaction to it" I have such a hard ti so stupid

"Imy shoulder with his "I’le as I pick up a rock and start drawing in the sand

"Try not to agree withso an?"

The words burst out before I’ve realized I’ve actually had the thought: "Isn’t it ever lonely?"

And goddamnit What have I said? I’ve opened up this door, and I absolutely, one hundred percent do not want to step through

My frank question seems to surprise him: "Totally I’m sick of it, actually"

"So why don’t you?"

"Co, I say, "Yeah"

"Because the first girl I’ve really wanted since I was nineteen thinks I’o still Blood riots in haway and staring at the sand "I like you But I also like you I would coh to notice the crashing of the waves, the cry of gulls all around us

Luke nudges ain "Ihim back I kneas attracted to -to-London thing

A crush, feelings, so fro down I like Luke, too I’m attracted to Luke I have fun with Luke

I just don’t trust Luke

And even if I did, I can’t have hi wave, and turn to smile at each other in unison

"I have to ad his head a little, "it is pretty cool being out in the water Learning the rhyth his elbows on top of theainst the shore

"Thanks for bringing me out here," he says "I know you didn’t really want to, and I appreciate it"

"It’s not that I didn’t want--" I start to say, but he holds up a hand, cutting me off

"And it’s fine, you know?" He picks up a shell near his leg and brushes the sand off with his thuht?"

I tilt ht I know you heard what Daniel said"

"Oh," I say, finally understanding "I did hear, yeah"

"Is that why you stopped wanting to see me?" He says this in a way that tells me he already knows the answer

"It’s one of the reasons"

"Daniel’s an asshole--"

"He’s not the probleanize ross Guys are disgusting so, a couple of nights that were fun and--"