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“Decent? You look incredible.” Lyric gives me a full once-over. “Not that that’s out of the norm for you. You always look good.”

“I wouldn’t sayalways,” I disagree. “And I’m not sure if you’ve actually looked in that mirror in front of you, but you don’t look so bad yourself.”

I gesture to the light pink sundress she’s wearing, her hair left down, falling in soft curls down her back.

“Kai’s coming,” she tells me, her feet bouncing up and down in excitement.

“He is?” I arch a brow, surprised that I’m just now hearing this.

“He called while you were in the shower. Apparently, my mom invited him and he said yes. I told him he didn’t need to drive almost three hours for dinner, but he said it’s the first timehe’s been formally invited by my parents and there’s no way he’s not coming. You don’t mind, right?”

“Why would I mind?” I shake my head.

“I just don’t want you to think I’m neglecting you for him. He’s leaving in the morning.”

“Is he staying here?”

“My mom lets him stay in Dalton’s old room when he comes to visit.”

“I thought this was Dalton’s room.” I hitch a thumb behind me toward the room I’m staying in.

She shakes her head. “That was River’s room.”

“Oh.” I try to mask my reaction.

“Not that you could tell. He took everything with him when he moved out and then my parents repainted, so it doesn’t look anything like it did when he lived here. My room is the only one that’s still the same, though it won’t be for long.”

“What do you mean?”

“Kai has asked me to move in with him permanently. Like not just for the school year.”

“Seriously? When?”

“Last week.”

“And I’m just now hearing about it?” I gape at her.

“I hadn’t made up my mind yet. I mean, I love him, obviously. And I want to be with him all the time. But I’m also only nineteen and moving in with someone seems like a really big step.”

“Because itisa big step. But I hate to break it to you, Lyric; living with him during school is still living with him. The only difference is you won’t come home for the summer. At least, not the full summer.”

“I know. It’s just... a lot.”

“It is. And if you’re not ready to give him an answer, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“I told him yes an hour ago.” Her smile widens.

“And you’re sure about it? Because you didn’t sound sure just now.”

“I am. I’m just not sure how I’m going to break the news to my parents. I told Kai I wanted to wait until we’re back in school. Maybe tell them toward the end of next year. At least that way we’ll have been together for a while and they’ll hopefully have fewer objections about it.”

“But they know you’re living together in an off-campus apartment during the school year, right?”

“Yes, but if they ask, we’re sleeping in separate rooms.”

“Do you really expect them to believe that?”

“No, but it’s what I tell them to make them feel better, even if they know it isn’t true.”