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Speaking of coffee "I’ll take that" I confiscated heras I eased into the seat beside her I wouldn’t allowfrom the Ankhs, whichfrom my best friend

"Hey!" A second later, she confiscated Reeve’s

"Hey," Reeve said, then confiscated Nana’s

Musical coffees

Nana shook her head, but I could see the gleam of amusement in her eyes

"No need for a lecture," I said to Kat, flattening eries for me"

Her features softened "My poor, sweet Ali"

"I don’t understand how you fell down our stairs and received such a life-threatening injury," Reeve said "You’re not the clu or the floor"

"Of course she’s clu for et tangled up in a cordless phone"

I nodded and tried not to look miserable--the claim was only a lie if I failed to believe it Maybe I was cluled upside down fro me hoork a sword and I’d nearly removed his head

Soyeah

"Anyway," Kat said, quickly changing the subject, "I’aers!" we said in unison, and burst into peals of laughter

An alaruys, but I’ve got plans for Halloween and they actually start thisSee ya!" She raced out of the kitchen

Nana stood "I’ve got to go, too I want to lecture that girl’s father about the i well inforo and told me you were in need of a costuht he was kidding, like some kind of Halloween joke I just didn’t understand, since only yesterday he’d been so ada in bed But if he thinks you’re ready, you’re ready--and I won’t ask how he reached that conclusion"

Please don’t!

And Cole had actually called Nana? "That’s sweet of you, but I don’t want us to spendI’ll only wear once I can , she patted , we’re not destitute We have the insurance settle for a house of our own" There were conditions for living here, and with conditions came an expiration date I wanted Nana taken care of for the rest of her life, no surprises In fact, I should probably find a jobthough thatI would need to take ti

No There had to be a way

"I’ lady, and that’s final I’ht, but so from the thrift store ork just fine"

She kissed the top of reeing, I realized too late

My phone vibrated, and I checked the screen

Cole McHottie (as Kat had dubbed hiator, I’m sorry But we R still on 4 2nite I miss U

I wondered what had happened to keep hiym

Disappointed, I looked to Kat

"So, where are you and Cole going?" she asked

"Hearts, I’htclub the slayers frequented "Now, about your phone calls and texts I wasn’t ignoring you, I pro you nohat I know, yet trying to buffer you froe It’s terrible! I hate knowing, but I’ve decided to girl up and finally discuss theyou-knows fro up is far better than e was power, and I wanted her safe Always

The housekeeper bustled into the kitchen, spottedto eat I declined, and she loaded a tray with croissants and cappuccino to take to Mr Ankh The fragrance of yeast and sugarone, I hopped up to wipe the cruels I’d bought with my allowance and offered one to Kat

She shook her head "SoI’m sure you surmised from my oh so subtle texts that Frosty and I are over Or is it Frosty and et Anyway, it’s for reals this tiel in record tih I craved a second one so bad, I resisted The longer these lasted, the fewer I would have to buy, and the less I’d have to spend

"Last night," she said, lookingwell--not that Frosty knew that part I asked him to stay with me, and he refused"