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Amber
It felt like I’d been swept into Adrian’s storm. He looked like he was about to kiss me. My throat went dry. I was panicking. My inner voice screamed, He’s Lucas’s uncle, for God’s sake! but I just stood there, paralyzed.
Then a rustle behind us snapped me out of it, and I quickly stepped out of Adrian’s gravitational pull. But my cheeks were burning from the adrenaline and my racing heart.
“Amber, are you here for work?” Sophia’s voice came from behind.
Before I could answer, Adrian spoke for me again. “Amber’s our neighbor. Raymond’s granddaughter.”
“Oh! That’s great! All our neighbors are old and boring. It’s wonderful that you’re here. You’ll come over for coffee this weekend, won’t you?”
Sophia’s excitement was practically glowing. “Sure, why not,” I said. My che
