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Nate:

That was all you

Me:

Thanks either way

Hey you know those ladder drills Travis made us do yesterday? Do you do them every time?

Nate:

Not every time

Me:

I need to make a note of that for my assignment

Nate:

You know Travis would be happy to answer any questions for your assignment

But you can ask me anything, anytime

My smile widened.

Me:

Does that include asking for mugging tips?

Joking. Thanks, I appreciate it

Nate:

You’re welcome. I’d better go now. I’m meant to be cooking dinner for Jonas and his girlfriend. Have a good evening. Make sure you rest your muscles

Me:

You too and I will. I might not be at the next training session because I have to work, but I’ll see you soon

Nate:

See you soon, pinball prince

8

Making my way through the library, coffee cup in hand, I stopped dead when I heard the familiar sound of Sophie’s laughter. My gaze arrowed straight to the table my sister was seated at, to the guy sitting next to her. His eyes were wide as he stared at me, his mouth slightly open. Fuck.

I vaguely registered my sister rolling her eyes, but I couldn’t fucking stop looking at Charlie. Charlie, who I hadn’t seen in nine days, not that I’d been counting. Charlie, who seemed very fucking cosy with my little sister.

Sophie eventually broke the silence that had fallen when I approached their table. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s the library. I’m using it for its intended purpose,” I told her, still unable to tear my gaze away from the boy at her side.

“Nate.”

I blinked, my brain registering the plea in her voice, and it finally snapped me out of this weird…staring thing I had going on with Charlie. I flicked her a grin that I hoped looked natural. “Alright. I was just passing. I’ll leave you to it.” Forcing myself to step closer, ignoring the faint scent of Charlie’s woodsy aftershave as I did so, I squeezed her shoulder. “See you later, okay?”

She smiled up at me. “Yeah.”

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