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“It doesn’t matter what I want. I have no claim to her. She doesn’t owe me anything.”
Hunter wondered if that was true or if she was glossing over her feelings. If he had to guess, he’d choose the latter.
“Besides, Darla sorta complicates things. I thought she was my sister, but really she’s nobody to me.”
“Who’s Darla?”
“Good grief, I really didn’t tell you anything. Darla’s Rosemary’s daughter. She’s nine.”
“Did you like her?”
“Dunno. I didn’t really meet her. I saw her through the glass door. Besides, I’m not even sure I could have a relationship with her. Right now, my head just hurts. I cried, and I hate crying. It makes my head feel cloudy, like it can’t see a way out of it. Let’s change the subject. What did you do today?”
“Well,” Hunter started, handing her a plate. “I went and saw my parents.”
“Was Kyle there?”
“He was. I think my coolness went up a notch or two when I told him we were seeing each other.”
“Coolness? Really.” Byte giggled.
“Go on, laugh at me. It’s okay.”
Snorting, Byte urged him to continue.
“He said he was planning on asking you out first, and I just stole you right out from under him.”
“Well, let’s see. You are seven years older than me, and he’s eight years younger. It really was a toss-up.”
“Oh, you’re a funny girl. Anyway, I asked if he was still keeping his word about not hacking, and he swore he was. Can we check before you leave?”
“Sure. But as a former thirteen-year-old—”
“Hey, I was thirteen once.”
“Yes, but it’s been eons since.” Byte ducked to miss the wadded-up napkin he threw. “Like I was saying, as someone barely out of their teens, you have to know that the lure is stronger than our willpower.”
“I don’t think that just happens when you’re a teenager. I think we’re always going to struggle to keep our lust in check.”
“Lust! I said lure.”
“Oh, my bad. I misunderstood you.”
“Sure, you did.”
“On a scary note, my parents want to meet you.”
“Wait, I didn’t think that happened until you were in a relationship.”
“I thought we agreed last night we were a couple.”
“We did. But even I know that meeting the parents is like way past the second date.”
“Today is our third.”
“Are you serious? I came to cry on your shoulder. That’s not a date.”
Holding up his fingers, he pointed off the reasons it was a date. “One, I fed you. Two, I’m asking to see you again, and three, I’m kissing you.”
