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She gave a laugh that cracked in the et it”
He didn’t knohat to say to that What did she get? And why did he know that the hell he found himself in wasn’t over yet?
JACK’S BAD DAY got worse when he went into town for lunch An innocent enough errand, just not that particular day There was a food truck that had a place by the park They served the best sandwiches and wraps he’d ever had Now he made it a habit to stop by a couple of times a week
He’d chosen today because getting out of the office had see about the incident with the one ho well He knew the truth He knew he’d hurt her and that he was the lowest form of life there was
The last thing he wanted was another warning conversation with Kenny, so he’d decided lunch out was a solution for all his ills Only when he got in line, about six people back fro to a pretty girl The girl was of average height, with auburn hair and green eyes Pretty enough Maybe too pretty
Talking was fine, Jack thought, pleased Percy had irl put her hand on Percy’s arhtly kiss her
Dating? Percy was dating? He’d only been in town, like, a irlfriend so quickly? This was soiant walking, breathing hor on their minds and it wasn’t how to study hard and better thenored Larissa’s request to talk to Percy about safe sex Turned out he should have listened
Worse, this was Fool’s Gold It was just a matter of time until everyone knew about Percy and the pretty redhead, and then there was going to be trouble One of her parents would couardians” What was Jack supposed to say? What did he really know about the kid?
The line irl placed their order A fewlove that they ate their entire lunch without noticing hioodbye and Percy started back to the office to make his move Jack walked behind him for a few feet, then increased his speed until they were level
Percy grinned “Hey, Jack Were you in town for lunch, too? You should try the food truck, reat The lady who runs it—Ana Raquel—is Dellina’s sister Dellina is—”
“I knoho Dellina is,” he said curtly “And I just had lunch there”
“You did? I didn’t see you” Percy’s smile faded “Oh You saith Melissa”
“I did”
Percy came to a stop and faced him The teen’s posture was defensive and combative at the same time His shoulders were square and jaw thrust out
“I knohat you’re thinking,” he said defiantly
“I doubt that”
“You think I don’t belong with her Is it because of the color of my skin?”
“What? Your skin? No I think it’s because you’re eighteen years old and your head is run by your dick”
Percy’sI’ her? I’ each other a couple of weeks”
Jack rubbed his teeles It’s a ss about each other Melissa’s parents know their daughter is dating so to co for answers”
“She doesn’t have parents Not here She lives with her aunt and uncle, when she’s not at college” His ain “She’s a year older than me”
“Oh, goodie” Jack pointed toward the office “Start walking and start listening Like I said, this is a small town Sure it’s nice to know a lot of people but that also ets to know your business And in this case, your business is dating a hoirl”
“Are you saying I shouldn’t see her?”
“No I’ box When that box gets close to empty, let me know and I’ll buy another one”
Jack didn’t look at Percy as they walked together and he really didn’t want to be having this conversation He wasn’t the right guy for this Surely that was clear to anyone who
Percy chuckled “You trying to tell me to have safe sex?”
“Yes,” Jack growled “That’s exactly what I’ you Put a hat on it, kid Neither you nor Melissa want an unplanned pregnancy”
“I knohere babies come from”
“Good That will ”
“Melissa and I are taking things slow Keeping ’em casual She heads back to school in a couple of weeks, so I don’t think we’re going to be doing anything like that But I promise, if we do, I’ll use a condom”
Jack nodded “You kno?” he forced himself to ask, and prayed the ansas yes
“I do I’ve been putting a ‘hat’ on it for a while now” He chuckled “Man, you are so old”
“Thanks”
Percy laughed harder “You didn’t like this one bit, did you?”
“No”
“But you got the job done That’s so”
If only it was enough
LARISSA DREW THE brush across Dyna’s back The cat lay in a patch of sun, her eyes half-closed, her purring all rumbly
“Is that nice?” she asked softly “Do you like the attention?”
The rumble continued
“I think I’d like being a cat,” Larissa continued “People to pet you and take care of you And it’s different in the cat world Huht? Like you andhere, but cautious Over ti me to take you in and then I didn’t love you back Trust me, that sucks”
She paused , to consider thatthe situation a little bit more than she should have Dyna was a cat She didn’t fall in love—at least not romantically She bonded with the person who took care of her Larissa, on the other hand, had bonded where she wasn’t welco the consequences
Someone knocked on her door She looked over her shoulder before scra to her feet She was pretty sure she kneould be there Someone from Score Odds were on Taryn or Jack She kneho her heart wanted her visitor to be
She drew in a breath, then turned the knob Jack stood on the saze
“We have to talk,” he told her
A feeeks ago she would have teased hi like that He would have teased her back Things had been easy Before, she thought sadly Before she’d realized she’d fallen in love with him