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Alexa scoffed, "The girls to graduate high school"

"Stop it" I narrowedto tell hioing on lately, I don’t want to stress hiht over spinach-avocado dip, which they ot there Lauren smiled as she walked away and popped a chip in heron with him?"

I finally took my hoodie off and put it on the back of my chair "Well, his contract is up this season, so the pressure is on to play well Obviously if he knew this was going on, it would mess with his head Also, his otten the results yet He hasn’t said it out loud, but I know he’s freaked out about it"

"That’s understandable" She took another bite and reached over, s Alexa’s arot a lot going on I even think it’s slightly adorable that Kacie loves hihed "I’ well"

"It’ll be fine" Lauren waved Alexa off "These two are so crazy in love with each other, Brody will totally understand why she waited And then they’ll ride off into the sunset on a Zamboni"

"Yeah, well hopefully Kacie is on that Za"

My stowhen I said I felt awful about not telling him I felt beyond awful, but I really didn’t want to stress him out

"Stop it!" Lauren slugged Alexa in the arain

"Listen," Alexa warned her, "if you don’t stop hitting nant or not"

Wait, what?

"What?" I exclairinned at me "Surprise!"

"Oh my God, Lauren! How could you not tellher again "Congratulations!"

"How could she not tell you? That’s a good question co from you, huh?" Alexa teased sarcastically

"Listen" I spun toward her, unable to hold ree with the way I’ve handled this situation, but seriously… kiss my ass" Tears welled up in , but I didn’t care "You have no idea what I’ve been going through None Zach walked out all those years ago and I never expected to see hiain--ever Then on s with Brody had just started getting serious and selfishly, I didn’t want toup Hell, I didn’t even know if it orth it to say anything because I had no idea if I’d ever see Zach again after that day" Lauren reached for my hand and squeezed it, but I didn’t stop "I have two kids, I’ree and keep e pi down your nose at me, damn it! You have no idea how hard this has been forout of

Alexa’s cheeks flushed as she sat frozen, staring at me with her mouth open She blinked a few times and shook her head back and forth slowly "Kacie, I aet it" I wiped ed Lauren "I’o I’m beyond exhausted and need a break Call me tomorrow Maybe we can have lunch before you leave?"

Lauren stood up and hugged ht there in her aret to my car "It’s okay, Kacie I understand"

I pulled back and cuppedto be a great rabbed ood-bye to Alexa By the tiood and awful at the same time

"Hello?"

"Hey, Son"

"Dad?" My dad never calledJust wanted to call my champ and say hi"