Page 53 of Mended Hearts

“Yes, I am. But I’ll behave—if you agree.”

“And the sky is green.”

“I mean it. I’ll follow your lead. Your rules.”

“No more naked jokes?”

“Fine.”

“No tattling to my siblings about my prior predicament. Or any future hypothetical personal things you learn from being around me.”

“I’m no fink.”

“No giving me special treatment just because I’m—well, because I’m me. If I suck at this, you call me out. If I cross a line?—”

“You won’t.”

“But if I do.”

“I’ll be the first to tell you. Well, or Mattie will.”

I wasn’t even sure she realized she was still holding my hand. But then she squeezed it, and said—abruptly, like ripping off a Band-Aid—“Okay.”

My heart stuttered. “Is that… Was that a yes?”

She pressed her fingers to her mouth and turned toward the window—presumably facing my house across the street. From the other side of the doors, the sounds of kids running and laughter filtered in.

I waited.

Finally, she turned back to me with a grin that could have lit the whole block. She nodded once. “Yeah. Yeah, I think it was.”

9

In Mint Condition

LEIGHTON

The Fam Damily:

Kaia

*Today’s the day gif*

Alice

Go Bombers!

Leighton

Go Pax! We’ll be cheering for you!

Maverick

So bummed I had to leave. Kick some ass, Pax Man.

Rhyett

Look who’s talking. Congrats on the win yesterday, Mav. Your final catch of the game was fucking phenomenal.

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