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“Yes he did,” Derek said vehemently

“He was just being nice”

“No he wasn’t Dude, that guy was too stoned to be telling anything but the truth Anybody that cool, he’s not going to blow sonna be in the band”

Ryan looked over at me, smiled, and rolled his eyes “Whatever”

It was funny – like Ryan was trying to i Derek’s naiveté

“Yeah, ‘whatever’ yourself – you just watch, he’s gonna be in the band,” Derek shot back Then he looked around distractedly “I’o upstairs and see what’s in the fridge”

28

The kitchen was lovely – more Real Siee terrariums you buy at Bed, Bath & Beyond There wasn’t too much in the cupboards, so we ate potato chips and carrot sticks with dip as we sat around the island in the middle of the kitchen

After a fewbehind us Two little brown-haired girls, about 9 and 12, were poking their heads around the corner, watching us As soon as they saw ht

“Hey – who’s that back there?” Derek said loudly

More giggling, and then the little girls ca around the corner and slid into the kitchen on their socks

“Hi Derrrrrrek!” they both shouted at once, and dissolved into giggles again

“Hello, ladies!”

“Out!” Ryan shouted

“AWWWWW!” they complained

“Coood-naturedly

Ryan gruues out at hi on every word he said

“Uh-oh, you have competition,” Shanna whispered in my ear

I just rolled my eyes at her

“This is Kaitlyn and Shanna,” Derek said “Kaitlyn and Shanna, this is Bob and this is Marley”

“THAT’S NOT OUR NAMES!” they shrieked at the same time

“Whaaaaa? It’s not?” Derek said, astounded

“I’m Mara!” the older one said

“And I’m Casey!” the smaller one shouted

“Wait – are you sure?” Derek frowned

They loved it Eventually, though, they glanced over at me and Shanna