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We walked side by side in silence after that, a little aard, a little hesitant Kyle broke the silence, finally

“You know, I’ve been trying not to look at you like that for-fricking-ever Every tiether, I had to run in front of you, so I didn’t stare at your ass Or watch your boobs bounce Even when you wear that bra, your boobs bounce a lot, and it’s really fricking distracting”

“Kyle!” I nearly fainted, I blushed so hard, and I couldn’t stop giggling, suddenly

“What? I’ you the truth You’reat you like any other girl I irls anyway ‘cause that’s rude or whatever, but you’re different But…goddamn, Nell It’s so hard to not look at you You’re hot”

I stopped walking and turned to face him, abruptly “You think I’m hot?”

He threords from earlier back at hi for coaze, serious and rife with euy in school thinks you’re hot—except Thoy But I think you’re beautiful You’re lovely”

I shifted unco heat in his eyes “Thanks?”

He thinks I’ht I was not just hot, but lovely, sent pangs of soh me, an intense pressure in my heart

We walked hoers threaded as if they’d always been there We arrived at his driveway first, and his h the mail, her cell phone stuck between her ear and shoulder, probably talking to my mom

She saw us stroll through the ate, hand in hand Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline and she trailed off mid-sentence, ed, sweaty mess, led with the memory of his kiss, and I wondered if she could tell we’d been kissing, if she thought we had been—

“Rachel? I’ll have to call you back Our children just walked in…holding hands Yes I know Already” Olivia Calloway hung up and turned to us “So You tere gone awhile”

She glanced down at our joined hands We looked at each other, exchanged a long, oing to let go I wasn’t asha

Kyle nodded at me subtly, then turned to his moe to talk”

Mrs Calloway narrowed her eyes at us, taking in our state of undress and the tangled estured at our hands

Kyle lifted his chin “We’re together now”

We hadn’t exactly decided that, per se, since we’d started kissing without actually agreeing to anything official But I wasn’t about to say any of that, not here, not now And ere together, even if we hadn’t ether, now Are you sure that’s a good idea? You’re both so young”

Kyle frowned at his irlfriend at sixteen and I don’t re shit to hi man,” she said, her voice hard “And for the record, we did say so to you now Just because you didn’t hear the conversation doesn’t mean it didn’t happen You were, what, eleven? Your father and I would not have had that conversation with your brother in front of you, Kyle”