第86节

    【】riendisingtocallherlatertogiveheradecisionabouttheball.

    sheheadedbaoreuhanbefore.ybedeogether.itsheerieseryofthettogether.itedabouthieebodyelse;apersonshedeupinherndhadifferentfadadifferentvoice.

    noobilephotohearhisvoiobilepahjusttokeephisaellhadfadedfrohehouse;hisind,asheuld.shedeliberatelythoughtabouthiverynightrightbeforesheabouthisheevenboughthisfavoriteaftershaveandsplasheditaroundthehousesosheetissheiliarslleandplace.ahappierti.

    shepseofhilesonlytodisverit;justalookalike.sheuldgo.sheuldgobecauseshedidnt,soshefeltlostandnfused.

    justbeforereaoreateasefortableinhispany,shehadrealizedthatsheanarangeandunusual.hollyhadsinantikforhertoshareafriendshipan.evenifhewasgoodlooking.

    andtheeaseshefelthadbeeafeelingofpanionship.shehadfeltthatfrohehitheyuldtalkforhoursdisy:loneliness.shekneadifferentkindofgriefandtheyeooketheaugh.andthereanyofthosedays.

    “hebar.“otheball”

    hollysledandsthatshebegoing,oppedherself.“areyougoing”

    hesledandscheduphisnoseandshelaughed.“anthaorrobertandroberta.”hepulledoutahighstoolforheratthebaradown.

    hollygiggled,“well,all.”

    “theotalktoyouallnight,doyouboredofyou.”

    “fihen”hollypreteobeinsulted.“ilanningonignyouanyway.”

    “phedefinitelygoingthen.”

    hollybecaserious.“ithinkireallyobethere.”

    daoppedlaughing.“hen,weshallgo.”

    hollysledathi“ithinkitoo,daniel,”shesaidsoftly.

    hisfootdroppedfroerfine,”hesaidunnvingly.

    hollyhoppedoffheradstrong.itdoesnte.”

    theyhuggedeaaritoarchedstraightbyalice,ilyatherarticle.“johnpaul”hollyyelled.“ineedadress,quick”

    fortysix

    hollytryingtogetdressedfortheball.shehadspetakeup,ase,prayiearreservoirhadrundryforthenight.anunlikelyprospect,butagirluldalwayshope.

    “derella,yourprincehasarrived”sharonyelledupstairstoholly.

    hollysheartrae.sheositdopletelyfottenherreasonsfoing.nohonlytheives.

    reasonsnottogo:shedidnttogoatall,sheg,sheuckatatablefullofsocalledfriendstalkedtohersincegerryhaddied,shefeltlike**,shelookedlike**andgerrybethere.

    reasonstogo:shehadanfeelingthatsheogo.

    shebreathedsloappearing.

    “holly,bestrong,youadeherju.

    “sorry,”sharonapologized,appearingfroroundthedoor.“ohholly,youlookfabulous”shesaidexcitedly.

    “ilooklike**,”hollygruled.

    “oh,stopsayingthat,”sharonsaidangrily.“ilooklikeablianddoyouhearplainingailedatherintherror,“youllbefine.”

    “ijustetonight,sharon.ihavetoopengerryslastssage.”hollyuldntbelievethetihadetoopeoertorroorekindgerry,aillfeltthatsheheinallherextbaapril,sheuldntonthstopasssothatsheuldriptheenvelopesopenahatperfedw

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