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A gorgeous jerk with a voice that makes my nipples pebble—nope.

We're not doing that either.

A noise comes from the trees behind us.

I spin around.

Two figures stumble from the woods.

Oh, for the love of spice cake!

“Randall? Evangeline?”

They freeze.

I stare at them.

Evangeline has grass stuck in her hair.

Randall's shirt is untucked. Both of them are flushed, rumpled, and wearing the unmistakable expressions of teenagers who have been caught doing something they absolutely should not have been doing.

I put my hands on my hips.

“Where have you two been?”

Evangeline immediately starts picking grass out of her hair.

“Nowhere.”

“Nowhere?”

“Yeah. We were just, um...”

“Talking,” Randall supplies.

“Talking,” Evangeline agrees quickly.

“In the woods?”

They exchange a glance.

“Yeah.”

I close my eyes.

Goddess, give me strength.

“You were supposed to be at the side entrance.”

“We know,” Randall mutters.

“Then why weren't you?”

“We lost track of time.”

His tone has just enough teenage annoyance in it to make my stomach tighten.

Here it comes. The part I hate.