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I’m not sure Because I don’t think I was “fine” before I met you I was lame I was li Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets

(Can we agree by the way that Helen Hunt ay too hot for hiod Ew!)

Love,

Mills

From: Millie M

Sent: 9:14 p lunch, and I se both had the guiltiest looks on our faces after we hugged, like I’uy friends in this divorce—and we both know it So, I wanted to tell you that I saw Alex, but I promise not to make plans with any of theh I miss you, of course, but I miss them, too I’ve never had friends like this, and I swear I a lonely

I want you to know that Ed and Alex really wanted no part of the secret Catherine situation Ed was a basket case, and Alex see If you’re ood, and you deserve good

I’m sorry I ever let you believe otherwise

Love,

Mills

Usually she writes at night I’ve come to expect it, and I wonder ill happen if, one day, I check the IRL app when I head to bed, or when I first wake up in the , and there isn’t a note there

I look forward to them, even if I’m not sure hoant to reply yet I find that by around four in the afternoon, my stomach feels like it’s risen to my chest, my hands are restless, and I feel the sa a race: excited, but also a little queasy

Millie’s honesty is refreshing, but it’s also disorienting Itto continue to read it, knowing that it’s soMaybe it’s a start

I read last night’s et to work early to help Shaylene practice a presentation she’s giving to the departraduate studies, she has to present the work she’s done so far It’s a big milestone for the first-year students, and Shaylene—who is much like my father, which is to say not a natural orator—has been dreading this for weeks

So it is both nice and surprising to find Ed already there, going through it with her It looks like they’ve been here for some time already: notes are scattered across the conference room table, the slide projector is on, and Shaylene is bent over her laptop, editing a slide

Perhaps not surprisingly, things are still weird with Ed Mostly what’s weird is treating hiht hand and one ofbut professional since all the crap with Millie and Cat went down, but it stings a little e both go to make an old inside joke then abruptly stop Or when I see hier asks if I want to come

Ed looks up when I come into the conference room, and with a quiet “Hey, Reid,” he bends to collect his notebook and pen, like he’s going to gather his things and leave me to help Shaylene prep solo

“Stay, Ed,” I say “I was just co okay”