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“Roger is not sixty He’s at most forty-nine—”

“And you’re twenty-six End of story Now don’t evade the question When was the last time you had a real date?”

I pick upit down as I try to remember I have to ado?” I venture, though I’m pretty sure that the date in question—a less-than-memorable occasion, clearly—predated Kendall’s birthday party

“A year?” Kendall drums her taupe-colored nails on the table “Really, Emma? A year?”

“What?” Trying to ignore the flush creeping upthe rest of my twenty-two-dollar crepe “I’m busy”

“With your cats,” she says pointedly “All three of them Face it: You’re a cat lady”

I look up from my plate and roll my eyes “Fine If you insist, then yes, I’m a cat lady”

“And you’re okay with that?” She gives me an incredulous look

“What, should I jue in despair?” I stuff the last bite of ry, but I’ else off the overpricedcats is not a crime”

“No, but spending all your free ti in New York City is” Kendall pushes her own ee to nab a man, and you don’t date at all”

I blow out an exasperated breath “Because I just don’t have the time—and besides, who says I want to nab anyone? I’m perfectly fine on my own”

“Says she, repeating what every other cat lady tells herself Honestly, E other than your vibrator?”

Kendall doesn’t bother lowering her voice as she says this, and I feel ay couple at the table next to us glance over and snicker

Fortunately, before I can reply, Kendall’s Prada purse vibrates

“Oh” She frowns as she fishes her phone out and reads whatever her screen says Looking up, she etically “My boss just had a breakthrough with the dress design he’s been struggling with, and he needs et some models to him, pronto”

“No worries” I’m used to Kendall’s unpredictable job in the fashion industry Plunking down ain soon,” and pull outaccount balance

The te, and the subway station I need is about ten blocks away from the brunch place Still, I walk because a) my hips could use the exercise and b) I can’t afford to do anything else This outing depletedto have to pushard a twenty-five-dollar brunch as expensive