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“Thank you, sir.”

Gray follows behind me, and I slip through the double doors, catching his wrist and pulling him into the narrow supply closet before anybody notices us. I close the door fast and turn into his arms. His chest presses to mine, and his hands are on my waist. Our breath seems louder in the darkness.

“Hey, goat brains.” I hear the smile in his voice. “What’s going on?”

I reach up to find his cheeks. “I couldn’t listen to him anymore, acting like you aren’t even from here. You’ve been here since you were seven.”

He leans down to kiss my cheek. “I was technically eight.”

Warm breath whispers over my skin, and I lift my chin. “I want you to kiss me.”

“You’re so beautiful.” His words thrill me and when our lips meet, everything is right.

Our tongues curl together, fresh mint fills my mouth. He smells like clean soap, and he’s so warm. I want his hands on me. I want my panties off and his fingers inside. I want to hold him like I did last night… just one more time.

After Danny found us, we’d spent the rest of the party circling the room, giving each other smiles, touching hands when we got close enough, stealing quick kisses in dark corners. Until midnight, curfew, and Ruby and I had to go home.

The whole way back to town, I’d argued in my head how some things are worth breaking curfew. If only my daddy were less fragile…

He lifts his face, and I clutch his shirt, whimpering, “I don’t want you to go.”

That makes him laugh softly. “I should be saying that to you. You’re going to college. You’ll be meeting new people, going out, having fun.”

“I won’t have any fun without you.”

“Yeah, but you will.” He steps back and flicks on the light. I squint in the sudden brightness, and he pulls a giant can of lard off the shelf. “Might as well act like we’re helping.”

The door cracks open, and we both jump. It’s only Ruby. “Ni Hao, love birds. I waited for the light to come on. Don’t worry, I’m on guard.”

My hand is on my chest. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“What? No panties in church? Bless me Father, for I have sinned!” She waggles her eyebrows, and my face gets hot. Gray only laughs, which eggs her on. “Hey, handsome. My mom dug out her old Buddha statue to pray for you and Danny. I guess two gods are better than one, ay?”

“Thanks, Ruby.”

My friend winks and leaves, but Gray’s expression is different. It’s a look I’ve never seen before.

I feel so stupid I never asked. “Are you afraid?”

It never occurred to me he could be afraid of anything.

He shrugs, and I go to him, placing my hand on his arm. “What are you afraid of?”

“You make it sound so dramatic.” He puts the lard back on the shelf and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “I guess I’m most afraid of losing you.”

“What?”

I step away, facing him with my lips parted. “You would never lose me.”

“Come on, Drew. You’ll be away from home for the first time in your life.”

“So?”

“So you’ll grow up, move on, meet somebody with money, family, the right connections. Somebody with a name like yours.”

“Oh my God, not that Harris name bullshit again. It doesn’t mean anything outside of this town.”

He shakes his head. “It means something.”