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Butch followed us, so I figured I ht as well kill two birds with one stone I said, "Let’s take hi she wanted to talk about so up with Jesse I was having another guy’s baby, for fuck’s sake; if that wasn’t the definition of I’ve moved on, then I had no idea ould convince her Over the past months, I’d done s went down Plus, I was totally, absurdly in love with Chance--to the point that Jesse had thought, at one point, that I was in serious denial and in danger of needing mental health care

She read hed "It’s not what you think"

"No?"

"I just want to , we talked about going into business together--"

Yeah, I reether, what seeed She had new dreams now, and I understood So did I, actually

She went on, "Now, I’ether a business plan for my own deal I just don’t want you to think that--"

"Shan, you’re always going to be"It doesn’t ether As for your idea, I think Zooth market anyway"

"All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy I know that sounds super motherly, but I don’t care, and you have to deal" More tears prickled at my eyes "Gods, these hormones I don’t even kno Eva survived it"

Shan laughed "I won’t say you’re glowing, but I a"

"Me too," I o in with a de bite and co a baby’"

"It was terrifying," I confessed

"Yeah, and with Chance--"

"Dead It’s fine, you can say it I knohat happened in Sheoland norether"

"Little bit"

Butch trotted over to htened, I wore a smirk "Anyway, I’m happy for you on all counts I do, however, expect free clothing and cos the prototypes"

"Deal But I have years of school ahead of me before then"

"You’ll be fah to think your products are cool," I predicted

Shan waved a hand in dismissal but I could tell she was pleased "Maybe It’ll take some start-up money I have some ideas on that"

"Oh?"

"Well, I was thinking I ht do séances Talk to dead people?"

"Be careful You et a reputation as a charlatan And if people think you’re legit, that’s a whole different set of problerinned "I didn’t say it was a perfect plan"

I hugged her with a squirwould you and Jesse be willing to serve as godparents?"

It was a huge thing to ask, considering her age, but she was my closest friend If all ell, it’d just be a titular role that involved spoiling the baby rotten; so far, it hadn’t been hard with Ca and raising the kid if so with those things in s were--and would always be--good between two Kilirls who htened around my shoulders "God, yes I mean, I have to ask Jesse, but I don’t think he’ll mind" Shan’s voice thickened, and I could tell she was on the verge of tears "I haveso much now, Corine--family" I suspected she meant the Ortiz clan and Jesse’s folks, plus all his other relatives From what she’d said, they had welco for hiirl

She took a breath, continuing, "Friends, a future I can’t tell you--"

"Then don’t I get it"

"Okay" Shan pushed out a shuddering breath, hugged o That felt a little sy, she was a lost kid, but she’d turned into a strong woman who could meet me as an equal She had her own plans and dreamsher own life--and that was as it should be Maybe if I hadn’t cast that forget spell, she wouldn’t have figured out what she wanted from life so soon I hated to think I could’ve li overprotective; damn, I had to watch that with ive you," I said

"I’ve taken enough fro none of it

I put the Pinto keys in her palm "Chuch can ith you on the title, ly car, but you need one, and it’s served ue Then she tucked the keys into her pocket "Thank you" She’d evidently decided to be gracious "Now let’s get back in there," she said "And party like it’s 1999"

I nodded "Yep We’re taking Booke to the airport late tonight, and then we’re heading out too"

"God, it hurts to think of saying good-bye to you," she choked out