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I kickto Disneyworld in the

"Pack your shit, baby, and I’ll book your plane ticket I’ll pick you up at the airport next Friday"

Friday, Friday, Friday

Our lucky day of the week

"I’ll buy the ticket tonight and send you the flight information"

My nod is trancelike, a blissful stupor, and I’m drunk with exciteh the oofy set so a half h school"

"A halfdeal It’s only thirteen reat shape

"Good night, Sterling," I say on an exhalation

His lips curve "Night, Scarlett See you Friday"

We hang up

It’s ih as I’rabit

Rowdy: Hey Scarlett?

Me: Yeah?

Rowdy: If this distance didn’t exist, we’d be fucking right now

NINTH FRIDAY

"The Friday of Sun and Sand and Tits and Bikinis"

Rowdy

"Can you do me a favor and not eers ofhours in the infield during baseball gairlfriend?"

"Mom, please don’t call her that when she’s here"

"So she’s not your girlfriend?" She feigns ignorance to tortureit…"to co Scarlett here, inhborhood to burn off this nervous energy

I’ood, kiddo Mo to beto cut up a pineapple, resting it on a butcher-block cutting board

"Why are you so dra a chunk of fruit in her , just like your father"

I pressbreath "Mo Don’t mention babies Don’t ask what books she reads, don’t--"

Wrong thing to say

My mother cuts me off with a palm in the air "Does she not read?"

"Yes, she likes to read, just don’t grill her about your novels, okay?"

My mother writes historical ro

"What does she like to read, then?" she presses

"Moain"

She straightens against the counter, uncurling her spine indignantly As if I’ve offended her so my heart" She places a hand to her chest, affronted that I’d even suggest to her that they’re an eular mom, I’m a cool mo you always do when there are girls around…"