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Past Nan and her slow-ainst my heels as I haul ass toward the three empty chairs The instant I reach the down on the first one, my backpack onto the second, and proceed to plop my ass down on the third one

A few minutes later, mystop on her little scooter

“Those wereher index finger inthis way and—”

“And nothing, Nan,” my mom snaps “These chairs are ours for the day As you can see, hter claimed them”

“No, they’re not!” Nan flips her shit “They’re mine! Betty and I always sit here!”

“I’s and slips off her sandals “But you’re not sitting here today”

“Mom, maybe we should—” I start to say, but I’m instantly cut off by Sal

“Just let it go, darlin’,” he whispers towardshit like this”

“Pulling shit like this?” I whisper back on a surprised laugh “Iscooter, Sal Don’t you think we should throw the white flag and let her have the seats?”

Sal just shakes his head, sits down in the lounger besidein for a show Any second now, I think heand start

“Sal, I really think we should just—” I start to whisper toward hiain

“Trust me, Carly Your mom and this woman butt heads worse than donkeys Don’t let that scooter fool you Nan is one of the biggest shit-stirrers in Sunny Creek She’s almost as bad as that neurotic broad Betty”

“Betty?” I question quietly “Do you oes nutso over trash cans?”

“Yep That’s the one” An arin makes his lips rise at the corners as he watches my mother and Nan continue to bicker back and forth “So, just trust me, it’s best to stay out of it”

Suddenly, Sal’s reasoning is sounding incredibly acceptable

It’s not that I thinkthat Nan is besties with Betty, well, it doesn’t exactly make me want to come to her defense, you know?

Truth be told, I’ht now…

“Oh hey, Nan, if you don’t mind, can you take your scooter away froal to have here It’s interesting how your ride-or-die Betty can let your scooter bullshit fly, but when ht, she dahts her in my driveway”

“You know I need my scooter because oftennis!”