there was another sound below , a sort of humph , like someone clearing his throat . my eyebrows rose , and i met his gaze glancing to me as he helped her with her chair . he dug his way frantically under the fence and squirmed into the road . i can hear sirens coming our way . erase more than half a millennium of friendship for a woman ? as his arm brushed mine , i groaned . `` spending time with someone i want to get to know better . '' he didnt want to go near it . 