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Not unless I did so drastic

I stared across the long, narrow dining room, wrapped with exposed brick, and considered ht when the waiter appeared at the tableside and gestured to Clark’s plate

“Do you know if he’s finished? Should I get these plates out of the way?”

“Yes, he’s done,” I said “He had to go”

The entleoing to sing” He delivered an areat, but our chocolate cake is”

I shook my head “Oh, no, thank you”

He gathered the silverware and stacked it on the plates, resting in the crook of his arm “You sure? You only turn twenty-one once”

When he winked, it was playful and harmless, and I couldn’t help but chuckle “Oh? And what about forty-two?”

He blinked in surprise, then looked at me dubiously “No way” He shook his head “Wow No lie I would have guessed early thirties at the most”

Warenuine “Thank you”

I’d been blessed with both good genes and a mother who believed her children weren’t allowed to see the sun until she’d applied sunscreen to every inch of the My boss, Ardy, referred to h he was just ten years older than I was

But he also called nearly everyone “kid”

It also helped that over the last year, I’d gotten in the best shape of oal by ym, I’d stepped up to the pullup bar and knocked out ten chin-ups without assistance

So, tonight wasn’t about turning a year older so much as it was a celebration of a year of hard work and determination

The waiter brought h to put it in a take-hoe your mind Happy birthday”

I hadn’t had sweets in forever, and as I stared at the white box, I was suddenly grateful Clark probably wouldn’t be hoht, and a slice of cake would be a nice consolation prize