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"I wonder if he forgot so," I say to Nancy

"Rrrrfff," she replies

"Or rin, that long tongue hanging from her mouth

"Yes, I’m sure that’s it"

We walk in to the s

"What are you doing?" I ask as I hang Nancy’s leash by the door and walk into the kitchen

"Your dishes," he says with a sht dinner Oh! And these"

He hurries to the kitchen table and passes me a bouquet of flowers from the market

"I didn’t see you buy these"

"I went back for the in the world "I saw you sniffing theea and breathe it in "Thank you"

"You’re welcome" He shuts off the water and wipes his hands on ers from Red Mill for dinner"

"It’s not my birthday," I reot to be hungry And I appreciated today It helped more than I expected it would to keep my er home"

"I’m not sick of you" I rollfor a vase for the flowers "I can never reach anything up here"

"Let me" He’s behind me, his front pressed to my back as he reaches over me to retrieve the vase "Here"

"Thanks"

It’s a whisper Every nerve ending hums, and I feel the loss when Jace steps away from me

This is insane Yes, I’ve been attracted to Jace for years, but it’s never been like this

"I was just going to watch soot ers and TV? This is a treat" He grabs the bags of food and followsto start bingeing so new, but I hadn’t decided on what"

We eat and coh the menu on the TV and decide on Ozark Our bellies are full, our feet up on the coffee table Carl’s curled up in my lap, and Nancy is on the couch next to Jace, her head on his leg, snoring loudly

It’s as norets Cos

"It’s Noel," I inforreen button Jace pauses the TV "Hey, you"

"Did you go to Nordstrom without me?" she demands

"How did you know that?"

"My assistant was there on her lunch break and saw you I can’t believe you ithout et anything?"

"Well, I did get new sunglasses"

She sighs heavily inme chuckle

"This is not funny!"

"It’s totally funny You sound like I slept with your boyfriend"

"Pretty lance at Jace, who is petting Nancy and s this at least soothes her, and I’ain "What are you doing?"

"Watching Netflix with Jace"

She’s quiet for a ht Does Sunday work for dinner? We should invite Dad"