Page 17 of Redemption

“They never took my blankets again.”

“Guess they didn’t.” He went back to his card.

Five. Because you eat my eggs every morning when Ms. Briddle says I can’t be excused until I eat them.

Six. Because you let me have your toast even though I know you want it.

“That’s true.”

“I know.” She nodded, laughing.

Seven. Halfway through the list and I’m not sure if you’re really reading this.

Eight. Never mind. I know you. You are.

Nine. Because you’re the strongest guy I know—with muscles—but also on the inside. I don’t know how I would’ve survived being thirteen without you.

He glanced up, his chest feeling tight. “Of course, I’m going to read your card.” But what he wanted to say was “Of course she would survive thirteen.” He’d never met anyone stronger.

“I know,” she repeated.

His stomach felt tingly, his cheeks and hands warm, and Ryder went back to his card. “This thing is long.” But he liked it.

Ten. Ten times I’ve written this list, and I wonder if this will be the one I finally give you. We will see!

“It was.” He winked.

“Almost wasn’t.”

Eleven. We both love vanilla icing and Leaven Heaven.

He dropped the card and grabbed the cupcake. “Is that where this came from?”

“Yup.”

Bugging his eyes, he knew that she’d lifted it but had no idea how. Before she could say a word, he took a bitethenpeeled down the wrapper. “Yeah. That’s why they call it heaven.”

“I know you’re going to share.”

Before he could give her a chance to read his mind, he smooshed it against her lips—not enough to ruin it. He wasn’t stupid!

“Eek—Oh, yum.” She licked her lips, taking his wrist and controlling the cupcake so she could take a normal bite as he laughed.

He finished the thing off in three more bites while she protested.

“You’re supposed to share more!”

“Ha ha, I did!”

They licked fingers and lips clean, still laughing. “Thanks, Zoe. No one’s ever stolen a cupcake for me before.”

She fluttered her eyelashes and made a prissy smiley face. “Just call me the cupcake crook, at your service.”

He brushed his hands off and balled the wrapper, tossing the evidence into the trash can. “Okay, what else you got for me?”

Her face flushed as she reached for the card. “Oh, that’s it, I think.”

“Hey, hands off my card.”

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