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“I’irl band,” Nate said

I made a face “You would say that”

He just laughed

“Me too” Lily chirped

I looked at Jan and she appeared just as disgusted aspoop,” she said, as if there was no other possible choice

I raised ht there with you, sister We’ll walk around with dog poop on our shoes listening to good music”

Jan nodded with great conviction

Lily heaved a sigh “You’re in denial”

She sounded so serious and grown up about it, I couldn’t help but share a grin with Nate We had the best freaking kids on the planet

Later, after the girls did their homework and atched some television, after I’d explained what happened to Lily to Nate in the kitchen, after I’d called Kathleen as convinced Lily had gotten the wrong idea but would talk to Lucy nonetheless, after I’d assured Lily everything would be fine at school the next day, and after we’d put the girls to bed, Nate and I curled up on the couch together to watch grown-up TV

However, ere barely paying attention to the cri up on each other’s day

“I can’t believe that little witch did that to Lily,” he grumbled “And over a boy When did boys come into the picture?”

I sainst his chest “I blame you”

Nate tensed “How so?”

“She got all that beauty fro to be jealous of it, and boys are going to want a piece of it”

“I’rueous bloody eyes”

“Mixed with your gorgeous bloody coloring and dimples Let’s face it, baby, in a few years’ time, Lil will be a knockout And in ten years’ ti to be equal parts easier and harder for them because of it”

“I don’t even want to think about it,” he whispered

At his melancholy tone, I lifted my head to look at him He looked sad “Baby?”

Nateup too fast”

“I know,” I whispered back, giving him a sad s kids while we can”

He nodded and his arhtened around me