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Caaze slashes to mine, and in it I see a holocaust

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all

TWENTY-TWO

Before Mount Vesuvius can erupt, I quickly put a finger over Caht "He’s not an idiot He’s actually a really great guy"

Michael entle noise of disbelief "You only think that because you’re nice, Joellen Believe me, the ot such a gnarly death grip on the phone, I expect it to crumple into dust at any moment

"Hoould you know? You’ve never met him!"

There’s a moment of silence on the end of the line, then Michael clears his throat "No, I haven’t But if even half of what is printed about hi you read in the papers"

Ca up for hi I curseup Lips thinned, he shakes his head

Wonderful

"You seem rather defensive of him"

I hear the subtext, the not-so-subtle invitation to shove Caot eyes for him For some reason it really irritates me

"I suppose I am He’s myfriend"

Cam and I stare at each other with a weird, unspoken tension building between us, while Michael breathes loudly on the other end of the phone

"Really? You’d befriend a nant and denies any responsibility whatsoever?"

My stos open I stare at Cam in horror

Cam abruptly hits the "End" button on the portable phone Then he removes the phone from my hand and returns it to the cradle on the wall, disconnecting my call with Michael He turns back to er "Do you believe hi up?"

"He’ll call back in ten seconds Do you?"

I think of the strip poker party the first night we met, of the anony up against Kellen’s apart me Cam’s nickname Prince Pantydropper

It sickens ed to underage girls

I fold my arms over my chest and say stiffly, "It’s not really any of my business, is it?"

Cam takes one step toward , he says between gritted teeth, "Then why’re you judgin’ s We both ignore it

"I’lare at each other as the phone continues to ring

"So is it true?"