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No question about it, she was lucky to have a friend like Callie Few people had friends they could depend on the way Lauren and Callie depended on each other “We’ve been friends for a long time She’s more like a sister than a friend”

“You’re still lucky” She nodded toward the city outside “What do you say we go to sole Let’s have some fun See e can meet”

A few hours at a dance club sounded fun “I’le, Suzanne, and neither are you Or are you and Bryan done?”

Suzanne rolled her eyes “I don’t see rings on either of our fingers, Lauren” She held up her hand and wiggled her ring finger “Bryan’s okay withother ht since I was here with you”

Ring or no ring on her hand, the last thing she needed was another uilt slammed her over the head every tiht not have been intentional, but she’d now kissed Nate on two separate occasions So while still with Kevin

“You pick up anyone you want, but I’ht”

“Suit yourself,” she said with a shrug “I’e See you in a few minutes”

Lauren shook her head and headed to her own bedroo rooht with so as she didn’t bring him back here

Alone in her rooown fro Kevin to check on hiirlfriend would call and see how he felt Even knowing this, she held back First and foremost, he needed his rest That reason alone didn’t hold her back, however, and she knew it So far the trip into New York and the ballet had been a terrific distraction fro him would only reinforce the fact that she had a decision to make

Should she stick with the safe path and stay with Kevin or risk her heart again and give Nate another chance? Every tiht occurred, and she again found herself pondering her choices The way she saw it, both choices had repercussions If she stayed with Kevin, not only ht she find herself in a relationship with a o on with his life without her On the other hand, if she ju with Nate, not only was she setting herself up for possible e special with Kevin

“What a complete mess,” Lauren said as she pulled on her black boots

“Youto the Porterhouse steaks his brother had put on the grill Older by three years, Ryan and his wife lived on the opposite side of town from their parents

“I kno to grill, and they’re fine But if you don’t like the way I do it, be uest,” Ryan answered, a hint of sarcasm in his voice

Nate refused to take the bait, knowing if he got up and checked now, he’d have grill duty for the rest of the night

“How’s it going living back at Mom and Dad’s?” Ryan asked when Nate stayed seated “Is Mo by?”

When he’d moved into the apartment he’d expected that froht by his mail because it had been left in his parents’ mailbox instead of his, she never stopped over She called once or twice a week to invite hiave him his own space

“I hardly see thee else” One more problem on his list

“Heard you and McDonald got into it at O’Donnell’s”

He didn’t need another reh of them back in his apartment Every time he walked into his bedrooh school a for a distraction from those memories when Ryan called and invited him over

“Who’d you hear that froht? At the rief had overwhels differently that summer, ould’ve happened? What if she’d had the baby? Would they be a family today?

The shock had since worn off, but not the grief His heart still ached for what they’d both lost The only thing that helped ease it was the knowledge that Lauren still cared Their kiss that night had sent his body andout of control That kiss and Lauren’s request for tih If no chance existed for the hiames with him

“We had words It was no big deal”