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“I love that place,” Lily said excitedly “We used to sneak over to their pond to swim in the summer”

“Don’t tell Mom I used to take you with htness in my throat

“I can hear you, dumbass,” my mom said from the hallway

“You have any idea what you wanna do with that massive shop?” Leo asked Mark

“I’ve only seen pictures,” Mark said, stepping over to a chair and pullingas it looks?”

“The thing is massive,” Leo replied “Used to keep horses, I think”

“Ooh, horses,” I said dreamily

“You gonna shovel shit?” Mark asked ht”

“You could get goats,” Lily said leaning forward a little “Goats are so cute, and it’s good for kids to have an animal” She looked sideways at Leo

“I said we could discuss a dog once we er place,” he replied dryly

“You can get a dog,” Mark said to me

“Thanks for the permission,” I replied sarcastically

Lily laughed at us

The conversation went on like that for a while Easy and simple as we talked about the house ere interested in Leo and Lily were also looking for a place, but not seriously, not yet Their ideas wereto thes that were important to them when it came to their home said a lot about them as a couple, and it was a little like a peek into their lives It was comfortable in a way that I hadn’t felt aroundtime

By the time we left, I felt centered in a way that I also hadn’t felt in a very long time

“Glad you came?” my mom asked as alked toward the exit of the hospital

Mark coughed like he was choking and I stared at him in bewilderment

“Jesus Christ,” row up They just get bigger”

Mark snickered

“Are you serious right now?” I asked hi in the middle of the ay

“I’lad you came?”

“To the hospital?” I shot back in exasperation “Yes Last night? Not as e boy the next day”

My mom cackled as I hurried toward her

“You fell in love withhis free arm over my shoulder “Can’t complain now”