“For the next several minutes we forgot about scones and lollipops and SATs and politicians and the Secret Service and hovered in a blissful place, population of two—Max and me. When I was kissing Max, the rest of the world, and all my problems faded away.”

“They would fade away-and I would be left alone to face the people at school,and the reporters,and Adriane,and all the places where Max had taken my hand or breathed in my ear or told me he loved me,and the emptiness that used to be Chris.”

“I’m tipsy, not blitzed.”Max twisted back and pulled into the road. “What chance I got you won’t pass out on the way home?”I waved my hand in front of me and declared, “Oh, I’ll be fine.”“Right,” Max muttered.“Can we listen to music?” I requested and Max turned on the music.Five minutes later I was dead to the world.”

“Shut up and kiss me, Duchess.”“Max!”“All right, I’ll kiss you.”

“Now it was just the two of us, Max and me. And about a thousand other people around us.”

“Your problem, it is not here' - he pointed the pen at Max-Ernest's throat - 'it is here' - he pointed the pen at Max-Ernest's chest. 'My heart is heavy, too. But you must be strong. This situation, it is very serious. It is not only Cass's life that is at stake. If she dies, the Secret, it will die too.”