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A few hours, three beers, and two bags of Cool Ranch Doritos later, and I’ve just about caught Lacey up on everything that’s happened over the last forty-eight hours

"Shit" Lacey says at the end of it all We’re sprawled out in the re room, surrounded by junk food wrappers and empty bottles

I turndown on the floor in front of the couch "That’s all you’ve got to say?" I ask, "I tell you the great and epic tale of hoent fro ot to offer is, ‘shit’? Aren’t you the English major?"

"Hey!" Lacey hurls a pillow at ing cru The beer has sent a pleasant buzz throughto feel more like myself, and less like the ind of pure emotion I was earlier at the beach

Finally, Lacey sits up She waves her bottle dramatically "Now I’ve had tihts on your weird and messed up life"

I beat out a drum-roll on the bare floorboards

"What I have to say to you is this," she continues "Motherfucker"

I blink

"Mother fker" Lacey says again, drawing out each syllable

I collapse into giggles

"What? It’s true He breaks your heart into a e you for your choices? Asshole" Lacey takes a long gulp of beer, and then gives a burp

"Real classy" I joke, to distract s she said

"That’s me, babe!" She winks Then her smile softens "Honestly, hon, I don’t knohat to say How do you feel about it?"

"I told you…" I trail off, uncomfortable at the question

"Ah, but you haven’t" Lacey points her bottle at me "You’ve said what happened, and what he said, and what you said But you still haven’t actually toldyou feel"