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Ed sets down his food, leaning forith his elbows on the table “Come on, Mills We all know you keep your cards close It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but it would be cool to know , you know? I could always be wrong, butI’ve known Reid for a long tiet to know you—or Catherine—you ht want to think of a plan B Reid is an es”

The probles I love about him He’s sensitive and able to express hi on from Cat would be the easiest conclusion to this ood it felt to unload all that today It felt good to tell him some more about my past, and how I’m lonely, and how that loneliness is al to fart again,” Ed says

Alex wrinkles his nose “Millie, drop it on the other side of the patio”

“I’ about how many chances I’ve had to tell Reid the truth, and how I’s,” Alex says, “but we’re all sort of selfish I’ you pay for my dinner—”

“Wha—”

He holds up a hand before I can correct hi to tomen at once, and thinks neither of them knows it Not to uy If sex is involved, I’ with you”

Alex winces a little before this next part: “And if sex with Daisy happens tonight, I’s, too”

Chapter twelve

reid

The ht slips out of my head Her photos don’t lie: even fronetic about her She’s beachy-casual in a sleeveless shirt and skirt; she see Even so, Daisy shrinks a little under the focused attention of the number of men who turn and watch her while she searches fora blue-checked dress shirt, and I’et a slight sour tang in my mouth because as she approaches, I feel that ever-present shadow of Millie in o—and the twin shadow of Cat and the authenticity I find in those es that I can’t honestly find anywhere else

I’ler—but the easy attraction and fun I have with Millie sees I can’t tell if Cat and I would have the same level of chemistry in person, even if our conversations feel infinitely deeper

And then there’s Daisy Sweet, beautifuland right here

I reach to shake her hand but she e Her breath is war across my cheek “I’ve been so nervous!”

“Absolutely no need to be nervous,” I say, stepping back

“I know” She pulls out her chair “I guess I’ the truth and you’re not, like, eighty and enormous”

This bounces around inside my cranium I can only say, “No”

The waiter approaches, and Daisy orders a rosé, I order a scotch, neat, and my stomach slowly cli questions to come back into allery of Ed protesting Daisy’s fat phobia and Alex re all of it Mental Millie is gone; she istered my own relief that Daisy was indeed beautiful

We start speaking at the same time: “I hope traffic wasn’t too bad,” I say, just when Daisy says, “I heard this place is so good”

And then we do it again “It is really good,” I say, just as she says, “No, it was fine”