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He holds up a hand "Let et this out I’m so sorry, Annie I’ve felt like shit since that day I feel like, I dunno, I used you or soh it’s not

He stretches his leg out and flexes his ankle Then he speaks quietly, "I’ve thought a lot about you since we kissed…Honestly, I’ve thought a lot about you since the moment we met--"

"You didn’t call," I say bluntly

He nods sheepishly "I wanted to ask you out I couldn’t stop thinking about you--you don’t kno ured you were madder than a wet hen that I didn’t call, but ht now…It sucks what happened to your boyfriend"

I look up at him People usually say "I’ that It’s nice hearing Jeremiah tell the truth: it sucks That’s all there is to it Living with a hole in my life blows

We finish our food, then he takes my paper plate and sets it on the little, wobbly table with his iced tea glass and newspaper He looks at me sideways "So if I were to call you--"

"You already did call me, remember? You woke me up at the ass crack of dawn and somehow convinced me to come check on you and your foot"

He grins "But if I called you for real…"

I clutch the swing, thinking of what happened on the banks of the Little Duck, how Jeremiah’s lips and hands set ivescar along his jaw That’s the last thing I need right now I need white bread I need vanilla I don’t need a guy who hurts hi of extremes, I’ve seen Jeremiah naked, but this is only, like, the fifth conversation I’ve ever had with hiuy I’ve ever er and thus it to his lips Does my hair smell like onions from the Roadhouse? He shyly presses his forehead to les down ne and boy and the sun

God, he’sa move on me I’m not ready for this with anybody Plus, we’re not even alone His little sister and dog are buzzing around Not to mention hishand to his chest "I can’t do this right now"

"So I shouldn’t call you then?"