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"Not you," Laurel said with co for that"

Alix didn’t see herself as strong, but it pleased her that Laurel thought so

"You’d never let anyone hurt you or use you the way John used me," she whispered

"Get over him," Alix said for the thousandth ti to a man who’d treated her so abominably It didn’t n of hiet out hed unhappily "I don’t like anyone to see "

"You make it sound easy, but it isn’t, you know It’s hard to stop"

"Then take a walk every day Walk instead of taking the bus You’ll be surprised at how quickly the fat willabout needing to lose weight! You’re perfect"

Alix hadn’t realized her rooure, but she was far fro a perfect body

"Do you think you’ll marry Jordan?"

Alix brushed aside the question with a short, hurabbed her purse on the way to the door, but hesitated after twisting the knob "Proood to sit around here and ht"

Alix had just stepped out when Laurel stopped her "Alix, thank you"

"For what?"

The question had apparently caught Laurel off guard "For being my friend"

"Sure No problem"

It seemed odd for Laurel to thank her, but Alix let the comment slide as she headed for the video store Without Laurel there to keep her couilty now that she hadn’t talked to her rooood friend, but then Laurel had been pretty unpleasant, so she’d avoided her as much as possible Any time Alix had tried to talk to her, which wasn’t often, Laurel had put her off Her roommate’s one solace seemed to be ice cream Alix considered her illed, but now she sa easy it was to judge That ’s conversation was the first they’d had in weeks, and she was feelingher lunch break, Alix returned to the apart to coax Laurel out Maybe Laurel would be inclined to exercise if Alix offered to ith her To her surprise, Laurel wasn’t there She didn’t keep tabs on Laurel’s work schedule, and her hours seeht now or she’d taken Alix’s advice

On the off-chance that Laurel was out walking, Alix started down Blosso to run into her When she did find Laurel, however, she wasn’t alone

Jordan ith her

They sat on a park bench in a shady area of the church grounds Their heads were close together and they seerossed in conversation

Alix’s initial reaction was anger, followed by a surge of jealousy All those questions about Jordan had been a way of finding out about him so she could steal him away Alix was half-tempted to march over and let it be known that she didn’t appreciate her rooot for sy an effort to help her

Then she watched as her roommate broke into tears, buried her face in her hands and hunched forward Jordan placed his hand on her back, and although Alix was too far away to hear, it looked like he was praying with her

This was one of the qualities she loved about Jordan There didn’t seeenuinely cared for people and longed to coht to be jealous Nor did she have a single reason to doubt Jordan Not once had he misled her or abused their friendship

They’d talked about the hter, he’d asked her to trust him It’d been easy to assure hi her roommate Determined to put her promise into action, she turned away and went back to work

Just before closing, Jordan cah?" he said

"Sure" She couldn’t help the burst of happiness she felt

He suggested they reed He was in a booth, with two cups of coffee waiting by the time Alix joined him

"Hoas your day?" he asked

"Fine How about yours?" She gave hi she’d pro to Laurel, she wanted to knohy

Jordan didn’t answer right away "Do you have so on your mind?"

"Should I?" She tried tohercoffee "I saw you and Laurel earlier"

Jordan didn’t offer an explanation "That bothers you?"

She shrugged "It did at first, but then I thought…well, that’s your business, not mine I don’t have any hold on you"

"You’re only partially right"

"How’s that?"