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Aha, Ali thought “I don't know, Denise, I was thinking about staying in”

Everest beckoned to her Doing the dishes see Unlike going out to Ryder’s Lodge on a semi-blind date

“Stay in?” Denise went on, oblivious “I know you better than that You want to be where the party is”

Once upon a tiirl hadn’t done her any favors These days, she’d rather be where the clean dishes were

Although, to be fair, that wasn’t her kitchen right now

“So I’ll pick you up in an hour, okay?” Denise asked “We’ll pick the boys up at their place and head over to Ryder’s Lodge in ti I can’t wait, can you?”

“Actually, I think I can” Ali wasn’t talking to Denise so much as the world around her

That was okay, though, because Denise wasn’t listening anyway “Great, see you soon!” Denise burbled, and hung up

Ali slid her phone into her back pocket and stared at the dishes again

It could be fun, she told herself

Ryder’s Lodge was the logging town a twenty-minute drive past Prescott Ali and Denise and their dates had lived in Prescott for their entire lives Ali was sick of it The saossip

The sa her wherever she went