Page 60 of Love so Hot

If he is, it’ll complicate things.

Roman

Definitely.

Sebastian

Let’s just wait and see what happens.

Lawrence

You guys realize that you didn't start a separate chat, right?

Roman

Oh shit. That's my bad.

Victor

Really, Roman?

Roman

Hey, you could have said something. I'm not the only one to blame.

Sebastian

No, it is the easiest thing to do.

Roman

So glad that our friendship is built on mutual trust and understanding.

Lawrence

See you guys this weekend. Try and behave yourselves until then.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lawrence

15 yearsold

The endless green of outside blurs past the car window, a smear of trees and hills that might as well be prison bars. I fish the crumpled letter from my pocket, Lauren's loopy handwriting a lifeline to everything I've lost.

"You okay back there, Larry?" The social worker's eyes flick to the rearview mirror.

"Peachy," I mutter, unfolding the paper.

As I smooth out the creases, my mind drifts back to that day two years ago. The rough bark of the oak tree at my back, Lauren's lips soft against mine, the taste of strawberry lip gloss. Then the shouts, the adults pulling us apart, their faces twisted with disappointment and anger.

"It's for the best," they'd said. Yeah, right. Since that day, I've bounced around from home to home like an unwanted pinball.

I focus on Lauren's words, drinking in every detail about her new classes, the latest gossip, how much she misses me. My chest aches with each

I wish you were here.

The car lurches to a stop, yanking me back to reality. Outside stands a weathered Victorian that's seen better days, paint peeling like an old sunburn.

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