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Her lips twist and she sits forward, perching on the edge of the couch Jessie’s gaze barely touches on us before he reaches for Bree

"Nu-huh," she hisses

"B, just listen," I say, my tone composed I want her to be okay with this--need it, actually But I’ this relationship Whatever it is Wherever it takesit

"Are you really this stupid?"

"Whoa," Park says His voice is full of warning, but Bree ignores him She crosses her arms in front of her and shakes her head harshly

"He cheated on you," she spits "Don’t be a door stupid"

Park’s hand squeezes ree, fine But don’t call Lucy stupid"

"Oh, my God Are you for real?" She stands up and places her hands on her hips I’ve seen the gesture ht

"I know you think this is a bad idea," I begin

She barks out a dry laugh "Bad idea? No, Lu, the bangs you sported in ninth grade were a bad idea This is insanity He treated you so wrong"

"I did," Park agrees before I can respond "And I’ret it forever But Lucy and I talked and she’s giving me another chance" His eyes dart over to Jessie before sliding back to Bree "And I’ to prove to her, to you, to everyone, that she can trust ain"

"Pretty words Park You should be a performer Oh, wait That’s your job" She rolls her eyes "I told you to stay away froain, Bree, I do not answer to you"

Jessie rests his hand on Bree’s hip as she opens her mouth to reply "Stop," he says fir my face "This is what you want?"

I nod "Yeah, it is"

He nods back and glances at my best friend "It’s their choice Their business"

Her mouth drops open I think mine may have as well "It’ll be our business when he fucks her over Again"

"If that happens we’ll deal with it then"

Both of her brows shoot up and she usted sound "You knohat?" She throws her hands up, the ry "I don’t care You do whatever you want and when he hurts you again, I don’t want to hear about it" She stalks past us and out the door I flinch when it sla away fro away froainst the back of the couch He props his feet on the table "Not at first, but I added until it equaled this" He flicks his index finger back and forth between , Jessie sits forward again He props his elbows on his knees and looks at Park "Bree will co as Lulu’s happy, I’m cool You fuck this up--that’s a whole different story"

34

Park

This is my first show since the infairlfriend I keep a tight grip on Lucy’s hand as we ood turn out since we’ve been MIA for more than a s are still unstable with Lucy and I’etting handsy Before Lucy, I would have been trying to reirl’s face so she could takethe hand of the only person I want to go home with

I purposelyme a few slurred curses

Lucy’s eyes widen and I pull her tighter to ainst her hair "Stay close I h, Lucy shakes her head "You’re on your own, buddy That girl is scary"

I glance over my shoulder and shudder "Hell yeah she is"

"I’ up into a smirk

"This may come as a shock to you, but I have no idea how to handle wohtly to the side "That I’ atis you don’t kno to treat a wo her?"

I squint at her, not sure how to answer that question But yeah That’s exactly it Lucy’s eyes narrow and I decide it’d be better if I kept that inforure it out "Co my keys from my pocket, I hand them over to Lucy "Keep a hold of these for me?"

"Why?"

"So you can drive I don’t drink and drive"

She sucks her bottoaze is instantly drawn there "I’ve wanted to ask you about that" She accepts the keys, tucking them into her pocket and I lean into the bar