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Max drew in a short breath. “What happened?”
I shook my head. “I really don’t--”
He took my hand in his. “What happened, Dani?”
My entire body stopped. Dani? I was ‘Dani’ now? Why did that feel like such an accomplishment? Why did it have to be an accomplishment with him? His eyes held mine as I drew in a heavy breath. The weight of the world seemed so much sometimes. And yet the stroke of his finger against the top of my hand somehow made it better. Made it easier to carry.
I wondered if I made him feel that way, too.
“I uh, headed to the pool after my last class. Just needed a nice swim. To clear my head.”
Max nodded. “I get that.”
“You do?”
He grinned. “Sounds like me and a good ride.”
I smiled up at him. “Yeah. About like that.”
“So, what? Benji found you in the pool?”
“Well, I ran into him on my way to the pool. I was practically running there.”
“Why?”
To get away from my mind. “To try and just… wash myself.”
I figured he’d question me. Implore for more of an answer. But his eyes filled with understanding. As if we were standing on the same plane.
And I felt like his equal again.
“Anyway, he kind of tried to stop me from going to the pool.”
He furrowed his brow. “How so?”
“Max…”
His voice grew curt. “How so, Dani?”
I shook my head. “You aren’t going to like this.”
“I already don’t like it. But I want to know what my cousin did to you.”
“So you’re cousins.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“Just learning more about you, that’s all.”
He licked his lips. “What did he do to try and stop you?”
“He was so insistent on talking to me. He said--”
I wasn’t sure if this was something Max needed to know. But I knew I’d already said too much.
“Dani.”
I shook my head. “Sorry. He just--he thinks I distract you, and he doesn’t know why. I guess because I’m not like most girls you’re usually with? I don’t know. I tried to step around him and he grabbed my arm to prevent me from leaving and--ouch!”
