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“Ssshh,” I hissed as her singing got a little louder I closed the bedroom door behind us “Do you want Mom to hear?”

Dillon shrugged and grinned as she sat down on the bed to take off her heels “I’ sister’s twenty-first birthday Not a crime!”

I laughed softly “Shut up”

“What’s up with you tonight? You act like you turned forty instead”

Slu and contemplated the disaster that wasin one of Gary’s friend’s apartments in Southie, and ot there First, he’d been all publicly handsy, and Michael had to pull hi Then Gary had flirted with another girl forlike a dipshit frat boy I hated when Gary got drunk He was like a different person

I’d had a good tiht in a corner with Michael laughing and talking Dillon had hung out with us too, but there were tireat In fact, I’d wanted the whole room to disappear and leave me alone with Michael

He’d gotten the night off work especially to be there for my birthday

I felt that low, deep flip in ht about hiave me that focused, boyish smile of his

Guilt swarmed me Guilt I tried to rid hton me

There were secretive texts and phone calls, and he’d started “working late” at the garage a lot

“Seriously, Dahlia, what’s up?” Dillon asked “I’m worried about you You spent the whole of your birthday with Mike and me instead of Gary”

I groaned “You sa drunk Gary was” I sat up, needing to talk to so crazy hours at some finance company, my little sister had beco on me”

Dillon wrinkled her cute little nose “With that trashy girl he was flirting with tonight? No, he was just drunk”

“No, not her” Although who knew? “He’s been acting weird lately Hiding his phone when he gets a text, working later and later at the garage when he’s supposed to be hanging with me”

“Oh” Dillon sighed “You should talk to hi ti about it”