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This actually gets my back up a bit "Look, ever since we first hooked up, I’ve been worried about Luke’s history with girls, worried about whether I’ain, worried about whether even hanging out with hiuys But if Mia is fine, I don’t know that it’s fair for you to be upset with"And since you hadn’t brought it up with us, I assuht I respected that, and was getting over it But if you’re asking me, then I’ll tell you: yeah, I had a knee-jerk reaction when Mia called and toldthatin love again She’s cos about Luke finding someone, even if we all know that reaction is petty, or unfair"

Lola blinks down to the floor at this, and et it: I would never get back together with Justin, but the idea that he loves the person he’s with now--that he’sher--is irrationally painful

"Mia calledtotally fair, but it threw her," Harlow continues "Luke and Mia started ‘going steady’ in sixth grade, whatever that means Her accident fucked us all up--a lot--and when they broke up we"--she ure out how to support Mia best It meant we lost Luke, and that sucks Because he was ours, see? So yeah, I had an initial reaction, and I’enuine"

I know there’s a lot of history there--there’s a lot of history here, between all these women, and sometimes it seeet to know them But with this honesty from Harlow, I knoant friends like this I want friends who’ll worry about my emotions, even when those emotions feel petty or s from," I tell her "I do, and I respect it But this isn’t about Mia, or you, or their past It’s about h" I tilt o Mia is married This isn’t really about her anymoreat all"

"I know I know" Harlow nods, slowly, and opens her mouth to speak before Lola cuts her off

"Mia’s not even here," she says, and I’ to eneral that this conversation is happening without the most important component But then she looks directly at Harlow and adds, "And if she were, she would tell us all we need to talk about so else"

Harlow steps forward and pulls"I’m sorry I want you to be happy I want Luke to be happy" Bracing her hands onquietly, "I ht," I tell her "But I don’t really know yet what that"So it would be aweso to worry about you getting mad athter "But if he hurts you, I’ hih ruffles her hair, and I squeeze her tighter, too

Chapter FOURTEEN

Luke

NEVER DO I feelthan when lawyers pile their stacks of briefs in , and pat my back as they file out for lunch

"Send upstairs to Records, would you?" Kevin asks, dropping a folder in er says with a friendly wink as he gives me a heavy file "Just put them on my desk when you’re done"

"Sao to correct her--there are only two of us interns, and Danny is the short, black one--but she’s already halfway down the hall