mention the state of her blouse and her skirt, which was
slightly crooked despite her best efforts.
Claire had never been so captivated by anyone before.
“Are you okay?” Haley asked, and she meant it. She was a
nice person. It wasn’t just an act.
Did okay encompass what they’d just done in her office, or
did it mean everything up to that point?
“You said Snake was sick,” Claire murmured, changing the
subject. “I’ll go check on him. I was serious about taking you
tomorrow and Friday if he’s not better.”
“That’s really unnecessary.”
Claire gave her a look that silenced her further protests. It
wasn’t scathing, but more a comical look at the bookcase
Haley had just been pressed up against, writhing in the throes
of a climax she’d never forget. You’ll let me fuck you, but you
won’t let me drive you to college? The unspoken question
hung in the air between them.
“I really didn’t give him anything,” Haley whispered,
lowering her eyes so she didn’t have to meet Claire’s piercing
gaze anymore. “I would never do that. I would never hurt
another person.”
Claire knew she should apologize, but the words came hard
for her. “Of course,” she said, as close as she would get to
saying that she was sorry.
Haley nodded. She was so damn bright, like the sun caged
in a small space. She was sweet and hopeful, and even if she
was still young, she’d somehow clung to her innocence so
much longer than most people did.
One last adjustment to her skirt and she was out the door,
leaving a vacuum of silence and confusion that bled into