第23部分(第6/7 頁)

y　anything；　he　just　stood　there；　listening。　Then　when

Mrs。　Loski　announced　that　dinner　was　ready；　Bryce

held　my　arm　and　whispered；　“Juli；　I'm　sorry。　I've　never　been　so　sorry　about　anything　in　my

whole　life。　You're　right；　I　was　a　jerk；　and　I'm　sorry。”

I　yanked　my　arm　free　from　his　grasp　and　said；　“It　seems　to　me　you've　been　sorry　about　a

whole　lot　of　things　lately！”　and　left　him　there　with　his

apology　hanging　wounded　in　the　air。

It　didn't　take　me　long　to　realize　that　I'd　made　a　mistake。　I　should　have　let　him　say　he　was

sorry　and　then　simply　continued　to　ignore　him。　But　I'd

snapped　at　him　in　the　middle　of　an　apology；　which　somehow　made　me　the　rude　one。

I　sneaked　a　peek　at　him　across　the　table；　but　he　was　watching　his　dad；　who　was　asking　my

brothers　about　graduating　and　their　plans　for　college。

I　had；　of　course；　seen　Mr。　Loski　many　times；　but　usually　from　a　distance。　Still；　it　seemed

impossible　that　I'd　never　noticed　his　eyes　before。　They

were　blue。　Brilliant　blue。　And　although　Mr。　Loski's　were　set　farther　back　and　were　hidden

somewhat　by　his　eyebrows　and　cheekbones；　there　was

no　mistaking　where　Bryce　had　gotten　his　eyes。　His　hair　was　black；　too；　like　Bryce's；　and　his

teeth　were　white　and　straight。

Even　though　Chet　had　called　Bryce　the　spitting　image　of　his　father；　I'd　never　really　thought　of

them　as　looking　alike。　But　now　I　saw　that　they　did

look　alike；　though　where　his　dad　seemed　kind　of　smug；　Bryce　seemed…　well；　right　now　he

seemed　angry。

Then　from　the　other　side　of　the　table；　I　heard；　“Your　sarcasm　is　not　appreciated；　Dad。”

Mrs。　Loski　gave　a　small　gasp；　and　everyone　looked　at　Lyta。　“Well；　it's　not；”　she　said。