WRIST CRITICALLY.
         
           “CAN YOU REMOVE THIS?” HE ASKED.I SMILED AND UNLOCKED HIM.I LOOKED
         AT THE TIME.TEN TWENTY AT NIGHT.I LEFT JEFF THERE AND WENT INTO
         
         THE POLICE LOCKER ROOM.I OP~ENED MY LOCKER AND CAREFULLY PUT MY
         
         GUN INTO IT.I HUNG THE HOLST$ER AND NIGHTSTICK UP CAREFULLY AND
         
         PUT MY C.B AT THE BOTTOM.I CHANGED QUICKLY INTO STREET CLOTHES
         
         AND PULLED MY HAIR UP INTO A PONYTAIL.I SLAMMED MY LOCKER SHUT
         
         AND SNAPPED THE PADLOCK ON IT AND BOUNCED OUT INTO THE LOBBY.
         
         JEFF TOOK MY HAND AS WE WALKED OUTSIDE,THE FREEZING AIR BITING
         
         AT OUR LUNGS.I RELEASED HIS HAND AND STARTED TO SPIN.I SPUN AND
         
         SPUN,ALMOST SLIPPING TWICE AND I SPUN UNTIL WE WERE UNDER A STREET—
         LIGHT.I LOOKED AT JEFF.HE LAUGHED AT ME AND I WRAPPED THE
         
         SLEEVES OF MY HUGE WHITE SWEATER TIGHTLY AROUND ME.
         
           “COME ON JEFF.” I SAID COYLY. LAUGHING AS HE RAN JEFF
         
         CAME AFTER ME.I RAN ACROSS THE PARKING LOT ON MY TIPTOES,
         
         BEING CAREFUL NOT TO SLIP.I RAN TO MY JEEP AND CLAMBERED IN,
         
         GETTING THE KEY OUT OF THE ASHTRAY AND REVVING THE ENGINE.I LOOKED
         
         BEHING ME AND PUT THE JEEP IN REVERSE.I WHIPPED THE WHEEL LEFT AND
         
         LAUGHED AS JEFF LUNGED FRO THE PASSENGER DOOR.
         
           “BREANNA EVANS!” HE SCREAMED.I LAUGHED LOUDER.I STOPPED ADN OPENED
         
         THE DOOR.JEFF GOT IN AND SLAMMED THE DOOR.HE LOOKED AT ME.HE WAS
         
         BREATHING HEAVILY AND HE LOOKED AT ME,HIS FACE DRAWN TIGHT.
         
         HE LOOKED AWAY AND CONCENTRATED ON THE WINDSHEILH.I FLICKED ON
         
         THE RADIO AND A FAVORITE SLOW TUNE BY JOURNEY CAME ON.I LEANED
         
         OVER AND TILTED JEFF’S HEAD TOWARD MINE.I KISSED HIS LIPS AND
         
         TOYED WITH HIS HAIR,HE WRAPPED HIS ARMS AROUND ME.
         
           “I LOVE YOU,YOU NUT.” HE SAID KISSING THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
         I LAUGHED AND LIGHTLY SOCKED HIM IN HIS STOMACH.
         
           “LET’S GO HOME.”
         
         
         
           “ARE YOU TWO COMFORTABLE?” DADDY ASKED US AROUND ONE AM.HE
         SHUT THE DOOR QUIETLY.I PUT A FINGER TO MY LIPS AND LOOKED DOWN
         AT A SOUNDLY SLEEPING JEFF.WE WERE BOTH STRETCHED OUT ON THE COUCH.