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“I’ what I used to say to h to say it out loud to you guys” Eed

My curiosity about Eo when she showed up on the boardwalk and transforer Hut into a bookstore She was so closed off and shy, however, that Bailey and I gave up on trying to befriend her Now that Jess had paved the way for all of us to beco curiosity We knew nothing about Emery, and ere afraid if we prodded, she’d slip back into her shell

However, I’d grown very fond of the soft-spoken, intelligent bookstore owner There was a sadness in her eyes that called to the melancholy in my own This wo for people to trust enough to confide in I wanted to be one of those people

“So, tell me, Emery,” I tried my best to sound casual, “have you ever had that? Sohn in your life?”

Her cheeks flushed a beco pink “Uh… no”

“Who has?” Bailey snorted “The man is one of a kind”

“Show-off,” I teased

“Just no?” Jess ignored us

Eave an abrupt shake of her head “Just no”

That was it?

Bailey wrinkled her nose “No guy you cared about? A childhood sweetheart, maybe?”

“I lived with randmother, and she didn’t allow me to date”

Jess, Bailey, and I shared a glance We guessed that kind of explained things Well, so down and focused on Eot to tell us about this grandmother of yours a

nd how a s woman of …”

“Twenty-eight,” she offered