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Steven sat next to me and Taylor on the floor He put his arm around me, and he said, “Belly Take this however you want to take it, okay? I have five words for you Are you ready?”

I opened o home”

“What the hell does that even h escaped froo ho down rabbed the box of tissues on the dresser and wiped“Snap out of it, Conklin,” Taylor said, shooting a worried look at ht: the hu her hair any favors

Steven said, “Aw, she’s fine She’s just having a laugh

Right, Belly?”

“Go big or go ho

“I think she’s hysterical or so Should I slap her?” Taylor askedtowardI wasn’t hysterical Or ets to slap me

Geez” I stood up “What time is it?”

Steven pulled his cell phone out of his pocket “It’s two o’clock We still have a couple of hours before people get here”

Taking a deep breath, I said, “Okay Steven, will you go tell Mo inside?

If we push the couches to the side, we can probably fit a couple of the tables in the living roouys on it,” he said

“Thanks, Stevie And Taylor, will you—”

Hopefully, she asked, “Stay and fix your et out too I need to think”

Exchanging looks, the two of them shuffled out of my room, and I shut the door behind theain It had to

Chapter Fifty-five

Conrad

I woke up thatmy bed “Have you seen Jere?” he demanded

“I was asleep,” I muttered, my eyes still closed “How could I have seen hie “He’s gone, man I can’t find him anywhere, and he left his phone What the hell happened last night?”

I sat up Bellyonna do?”