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Dinah rolls her eyes

“Of course not! It’s too late in the year for that But where are you going in this ridiculous outfit? It looks like you’re five years old with that ribbon in your hair and the shiny Mary Janes”

I s This is the hard part because how do I tell my mom that I’m supposed to look like I’m five years old? How do I tell her that this is what ether? There’s only one path forward, and that’s to tell her the truth

“Well Mom, do you remeo?”

She nods her nose scrunching with confusion

“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”

I take a deep breath

“Well, I went to Carlton Realty the next day to ask for a reprieve, and I met Mr Carlton”

Dinah nods

“Yes, Kenneth Carlton, right? Your old high school friend”

I shake my head

“No, not Kenneth His dad, Xavier Carlton”

My mom looks puzzled

“The Xavier Carlton who’s a billionaire real estate developer? You talked to him?”

I nod

“Yes, I did Well, one thing led to another, and it turns out that he has certain predilections Specifically, he enjoys dating wo him so that you won’t be evicted And to keep hiirl”