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He’d put in a call to Pershing’s principal soon after Marisa had fled his offices several days ago He’d covered for her by taking the heat for their h Hell, it was the least he could do after finding out the truth about fifteen years ago And, he illing to huet the job done Neverthe plans for prior construction jobs was a waste of time Every job was unique; everybody knew as much

Still, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Marisa All these years he’d hated her No, that wasn’t right He’d built up a wall and sealed her off from the rest of his life

Now he understood the choice that Marisa had faced in the principal’s office And yeah, she’d been right on target about the way he’d been in high school He wouldn’t have wanted to hear her confession Because he’d been a callow eighteen-year-old to whoh school championship had meant more than it should

In contrast, Marisa had been an insightful teen She’d shown that understanding when it had come to Mr Hayes, and Cole had spurned her for it But the truth was, Cole had fallen for her back then precisely because she’d seemed self-possessed and different She’d stood outside the usual shallow preoccupations of their classmates The truth was she’d been row up fast

Cole cursed silently

Marisa had been wrong about one thing, though All you cared about was the hockey championship He’d cared about her, toountil he’d felt betrayed

In the storage roo br

own eyes, and he’d stopped hi her face to reassure her He was sure that if he’d reached for her pulse right then, it would have jumped under his touch

Then she’d rocked hi called to the mat by Mr Hayes, and he’d kissed her The lip-lock had been as good as he’d fantasized, and even better than hisunder his skin and er

His pulse started to huain He just needed to make it happen

He took out his phone and started typing a text e She’d called fro at Serenghetti’s offices to review construction plans, and he’d made note of the number

Told Dobson ourcut short b/c I had other business Let’s reschedule Dinner Friday 6 LMK

As soon as he hit Send, he felt his spirits lift

Spotting his fore toward him, he slipped the phone into the back pocket of his jeans and adjusted his hard hat There was unfinished business today, and there would be unfinished business on Friday But first he had a

As soon as his consultation with the foreman was over, Cole drove to his parents’ house He arden, where he knew he’d find his parents, based on what hishis call to her earlier