“I tried to not peek,” said Dean.Confused, Parker paused mid-bite, then lifted a brow. “Tried?”“I’m male and straight.”

“Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.”

“Looking up at Max he asked, “Do you recommend anything?” He kept his eyes low and to the table, trying but failing to keep his eyes open against the bright sun light.“You okay?” Max asked, watching as Landon struggled to meet her eyes.“I’m trying not to look at you,” he replied.“I’m sorry, what?”“I mean I’m trying not to hurt my eyes.”Max crossed her arms over her chest and raised a wicked brow. Landon shielded the sun with his hand and finally made eye contact with her. “That came out wrong,” he said apologetically. “It sure did,” she said with a chuckle.”

“Okay. Take a peek, but I swear if you try anything funny, I’ll beat your head in with my flashlight.”

“My bottom belly was gone! I'd contemplated having that thing sucked out many times, but if you've ever had a face-lift and a brow lift and felt the pain of that, it makes you pause before doing anything else too invasive.”

“I try to teach my students that books are a mirror, reflecting their own lives, and a window, giving them a peek into someone else's.”