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"Sure," Jesse said "What ht by the fahed "Don’t expect much We play more than we learn, but I want therind If they’re interested, they can work on scales and technique later"

"You’re the expert Just tellit’s all right with Nicole"

"Jesse, don’t"

"Don’t what? Be realistic? Admit it" Jesse kicked off her sandals and tucked her feet under her "She doesn’t want me to be successful, Claire She’s sorry I’ with a lot Re"

Which had been Jesse’s request--that Claire not tell Nicole she was co back "Maybe that was a mistake Maybe I should have let you tell her Not that I think it would havethat didn’t happen" Exactly like Matt He was furious about the past he reet over it," Claire said soothingly "Give it time"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really She’ll come around"

Jesse wasn’t so sure "It’s unfair I kept telling her before and she didn’t believe me Now it’s five years later and she’s still pissed"

"You didn’t try very hard," Claire pointed out

Jesse stared at her "Excusenothing happened"

"Nothing did" Jesse couldn’t believe it She was being judged on the way she’d tried to defend herself?

"We thought you ry because you and Drew hadn’t actually gotten far enough along to have sex"

"What?" Jesse couldn’t believe it "I ee, ere interrupted and I’ht otherwise? Why would--

She rubbed her temple Nicole would have assu a disaster Because the worst was easier to believe

"All this over words," she ed forever, chances lost because of semantics?

"Words matter," Claire said "Nicole was devastated I’ you had to say"

Claire was right, Jesse thought But at least if she’d etting along better now

"Nothing happened," Jesse repeated "Drew and I were never involved, never had sex, never wanted to have sex" She paused "Okay, he did, that last night, but I have no idea where that came from I was in love with Matt and I was co h?"

Claire touched her hand "I totally and coet a chance, pass it on to Nicole"

"Give her time She’ll come around"

Jesse nodded It wasn’t like she had rown-up"

"A hard-won victory"

"An impressive victory"

"I have so s I want to achieve Co with Nicole is a part of that, but ultiree So do what you can and then try to let it go"

"That doesn’t seeo as in not care? "I appreciate that you stayed in touch with y about you that Nicole did," Claire said

Because they hadn’t grown up together They were still practically strangers who just happened to be sisters

"I’ll get through it," Jesse said, knowing one way or the other she would "I’, I just didn’t know it then"

"You kno," Claire said "Isn’t that what matters?"

JESSE SAT IN HER CAR and pulled out her cell phone She pushed the button to dial a familiar number, then smiled when she heard the slo, "Hello?"

"Hi, Bill"

"Hey, Jess How you doing?"

"Okay Good Sort of"

He chuckled "Still trying to decide"

"Oh, yeah Nothing is like I thought"

"Better or worse?"

"Both"