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“Nope,” I respond, popping the p “Into Callie as Jack the Ripper’s nonexistent twin sister isnice about it”

“Aw, honey, I’ht it was such perfect tioing to be in Ver And Callie seeirls could use this as a chance to liness I’m really sorry if I’ve upset you I would never try to do that”

My shoulders sag at the sincerity in my mom’s voice Obviously, I don’t want my mom to feel bad—I just want her not to volunteer me for shit I don’t want to do

But I’est people-pleasing woman you’ll ever enetics, I won that chromosome jackpot handily

Knowing she can’t help herself anytime

“It’s fine, Moo I have a best friend waiting for et to our Halloween party His patience is usually pretty great, but I have to iine it runs out at some point

“You promise you’re not mad at me?” she asks

“Promise, Mo iven”

“Oh, thank heavens,” she mutters, and I don’t miss the way her voice softens with relief “And, Ava?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t forget to let Callie know you’re not going to be attending”

“Wait…what?” I question “Why do I have to be the one to let her know? Pretty sure that’s your job”

“What was that, honey?” she asks “You’re breaking up I can’t hear you”

“Mom, I know you can hear me You’re on your house phone”

“Ava? Ava? Hello?”

“Mom, be serious Your house is nowhere near any tunnels”

“Ava, honey, I can’t hear anything you’re saying right now!” she exclai weird noises into the receiver so I think we have a bad connection “I’ll call you later, okay? Don’t forget to let Callie know about the reunion Love you, sweetie!”

Click And just like that, she ends the damn call

Fracking hell, Mom!

With a roughness I’ll likely regret later, I toss roan so loudly, it echoes off the walls