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"Wear sos the brush through my hair as we stand in front of the bathroom mirror He alants to brush h my entire body "I have a birthday surprise for you and I want you to be coor to a club are you? I hate clubs"

The brush catches on a knot in my hair and I yelp "Sorry! No, it’s not a club" He kisses the top ofyourself pretty and I’ll finish ourht hiurt parfait for breakfast He keeps both of our refrigerators stocked with yogurt and fruit andwith ether I don’t have the heart to tell hie from the bathroom fully primped and dressed in a thin, butter-yellow, off-the-shoulder shirt over a camisole and so soladiator sandals with no heels He lookson a silver bangle bracelet Senia gave me for President’s Day She insists all holidays are an excuse to give gifts

I pull my phone out of my back pocket to text her as Adaurt across the breakfast bar towardif she’s stillAdam and me for an early dinner at Bida Manda I place urt and take the first bite of yogurt with a chunk of pineapple

"Mmm…"

Adam smiles then plants a fir upstairs to get dressed I’ll be back faster than you can say Bida Manda"

"You read my text!" I shriek, and he cackles as he dashes out the front door

As soon as the door closes, I pick up ht I don’t hesitate and within two rings she answers

"Hello?"

She sounds exactly the sa out of the dorive her my new phone number once I was settled Her voice still had that faint Southern accent she had tried to snuff out during her college years in Arizona

"Jackie?" My voice is shaky and a bit thick with phlegurt I clear my throat and I hear a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line "Jackie, it’s Claire"

"I know," she whispers, and now it’s obvious she’s crying and it instantly makes me want to cry

"Jackie, I’m so sorry I haven’t called"

"Are you okay? Please tell me you’re okay"

"I’m fine I promise I’m okay"

"Oh, thank God" She whispers this a few ht of what I’ve put her through

She doesn’t hatehoht I have plans But I’h and I want to co Is that okay?"

"Is that okay? Honey, you don’t have to ask if you can come here This is your home You are alelcome here"

For a mo with Chris and Jackie Even the boyfriends Jackie dated were always sweet and respectful She never settled down after divorcing Chris’s father when he was six She always insisted she was too picky, but the truth is she’s too strong-minded and independent She won’t take shit from anybody, which is why I fully expected her to be pissed at me This tearful acceptance is possibly worse

"I’ll be there in the ," I say as the front door opens and Adas his ripped chest

"Claire?"

"Yeah?"

"I can’t wait to see you"

"Me, too," I whisper before I hang up

Ada a crooked smile that melts my heart I tuck my phone into my back pocket and stuff o to hiainst his chest

"Thank you for taking me today"

"I haven’t even taken you yet How do you know this isn’t an elaborate ruse to get my hands on your trust fund?"

I lean my head back and look into his eyes, ready to butter hireen eyes I have ever seen on a huns"

"If I give you all my money, can you take ?"

"Tell you what, I’ll let you keep the ht"

"Deal"

"And you knohat I mean when I say birthday cake"

"Of course I do That stuff with the frosting"

He leans down to kiss ’s the best part"