Page 88 of Anyone But Her

"Because I didn't know what else to say."

"You have a very strange way of flirting."

"Whatever. So anyway, I took a bite of his apple and then I don't know exactly how it happened but all of a sudden we were kissing and touching and then I ended up on the counter and there was more kissing and touching and then he said we should go to the guest house."

"All this happened because of an apple?" She shrugs. "Guess I should try it."

"It wasn't about the apple. It was about us being alone, late at night, barely dressed, and insanely attracted to each other."

"But you didn't end up doing it?"

"No. Because my dad walked in."

Her hand flies over her mouth. "Your dad caught you with Luke? Oh my God, did he kick him out?"

"My dad didn't see anything. We heard him coming and stopped before he got to the kitchen. If he'd shown up just a few minutes later, Luke and I would've been in the guest house, continuing what we started."

"Leave it to your dad to ruin your sex life."

"Birdie, we almost got caught!" I fall back on the floor and stare up at the ceiling. "I can't keep doing this stuff. It's way too risky. I'm not worried about myself. My dad's not going to kick me out. He'll just lecture me for breaking the rules. But Luke will end up homeless. I can't risk that happening."

"Then I guess you'll have to stay away from him until he moves out. Or find places where you two can meet."

"But when we do that it just makes us want to see each other even more. And staying away from him here at the house is nearly impossible and is gonna get worse."

"How will it get worse?"

"My mom said she wants Luke to have more meals with us. She's worried he feels like he's imposing if he shows up at dinner so she's going to insist he come over for meals whenever he's home. And she wants him to spend more time in the main house so he's not stuck in the guest house all alone."

"Hmm. Then I don't know how to help you unless you'd like to come move in with me, but you'll have to put up with Max. He's in this photography stage where he takes pictures of everything. The other day he took a picture of me while I was sleeping and posted it online. I almost killed him. My mom made him take it down."

Birdie's brother, Max, is eight. Her parents call him their little surprise because they didn't plan on having more kids after Birdie. He used to be cute but now he's loud and annoying and never leaves us alone which is why we don't hang out at her house anymore.

"I think I'll just have to hide in my room until Luke moves out."

"We both know that won't happen. You two are drawn to each other like magnets. There's no way you'll be able to stay apart. It's impossible."

"Then what am I going to do?"

There's a knock on the door and I hear my dad's voice. "Taylor?"

"What do you need?"

"Can I come in?"

I look at Birdie who just shrugs.

"Go ahead," I tell my dad. "Door's open."

He opens it and sees Birdie. "Hi, Birdie. I didn't know you were here."

She smiles. "I was bored. Thought I'd come hang out with Taylor."

"What do you need, Dad?" I ask.

"They're filming Luke's commercial today. I'm going down there to check it out and I'd like you to come with me."

"Why would I go?"

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