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“Why are they being so ?” I asked “It seems a bit dramatic, even for CeeCee”

“Who knows,” she replied with a sigh “I’ve learned to just live my own life and try not to let her stress me out”

“Good call,” I replied, glancing at ain

“Stop checking your phone,” she ordered quietly “You don’t anshen he calls, anyway”

“I know, it’s stupid”

“It’s not stupid It didn’t work out, he needs to stop bothering you”

“He’s not bothering ued

“You’ve lost a ton of weight and your skin looks like crap,” she retorted “You’re trying toyou It’s bullshit”

“He probably thinks I’ll change ain

“Do you think he’ll change his mind?” she asked

I thought about the absolute finality in his voice when he told me that Kara wasn’t mine to raise and that he didn’t want any more kids The frustration in his voice when he’d tried to talkan inch The way his voice had gone rough when he’d talked about Mia

“No, I don’t,” I replied

“Then he should give you the sa back in her chair

“I don’t want hih “Itabout me”

“Rose,” Lily said softly, her eyes sad “Don’t settle He ive you and what he wasn’t”

“I know,” I replied, sitting up straight “I know that”

“I hate this for you I know you thought he was the one”

“It’s eh “Why does this always happen to me? We have this conversation over and over, and I still keep finding these guys who aren’t right forapart”

“You haven’t fallen apart,” she said firht to be sad”

“This hurts so much worse than it ever has before,” I choked out “Before, it was like I was grieving a drea someone and when it didn’t work out, I was so disappointed”

“I know you were”