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When we finally pull apart, she rests her forehead on my chin. "So, nothing else?" I murmur, tracing the edge of her jaw.

Lenny hums, her eyes still closed until she finally lets them open. "Nope, I got nothin'."

"Oh, you think you're funny." I shift my weight, rolling both of us so that my body now hovers over hers.

"What do you think, O'Reilly? You gonna join me at CMU after you graduate?" I look around still unconvinced her mom isn't spying somehow. "Get you some of that distance you're always talkin' about?"

Her smile falters slightly as she looks to the ceiling—maybe searching for signs of Mabel too.

When her eyes meet mine again, it's not just like she's looking at me, but through me.

To next year and the one after that.

To CMU.

To our future.

"Jace, I—"

A car door slams and the sound slips through the screen of her window.

"Oh, shit." We stare at each other for too long before we roll in opposite directions. I fly off the bed and dive for my shorts as Lenny throws her sundress over her tousled hair.

"I told you," I whisper, heart racing, eyes wide. "She knew."

Lenny reaches down and throws my shirt at me much harder than necessary, smothering a laugh when it whips me right in the face.

"You deserved that," she whispers.

Downstairs, the front door slams and her dad's voice carries up the steps. "Nora, you okay? Your mother sent me back for more mint."

Lenny's eyes go wide.

"Those are the fuzzy leaves, right?" Patrick continues yelling. "Oh, nevermind. I'll just smell 'em all."

She rolls her eyes and points. "Closet," she hisses.

I step into my sneakers, but instead of moving toward the double doors in the wall, I head straight for her and pull her close. "Only if you come with me."

She tilts her chin down. "Jace, he can't see you in here when he thinks I'm sick."

My eyes wander the room. "So, uh… what about my car in your driveway, then?"

"You parked in the driveway?" she grinds out.

Immediately, Lenny tries to dart to the window, but I hold her steady, my hands wrapped gently around her waist.

When she looks at me again, she knows. "Jerk," she mutters.

My grin grows wider. "You love me," I say, holding her against me.

The crease in her forehead softens as she throws her arms around my neck. "I do."

I drop my forehead to hers, inhaling her scent—a little sweet. A little floral. A little bit of me. "Good," I whisper. "Because you can try to shove me in the closet, Lenny girl, but you can't get rid of me that easily."

"I can after you graduate," she taunts, a sparkle in her eye.

I nod against her. "Mhmm." I graze her lips with mine just enough to tease her. "But even then..."