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“You’re Josh’s girlfriend Right?”

“Yeah” I holdthis is another one of his friends I thought Landon’s parties were intense, but I’ve ht than I have at one of Aunt Tricia’s fundraisers Josh knows everyone here, and I mean everyone I don’t kno he keeps all their naht “I’m Layla”

The girl spits at er inslut!”

“Layla!” Josh runs between the cars He passes the bitch, I don’t like that word but this woman fits the definition to the tee, and pulls me into him “Are you okay?”

“Yeah… I’m fine”

He kisses my forehead and turns to the woman in question “What the fuck do you want, Kaitlin?”

“Nothing” Kaitlin holds her hands up and back steps towards the fire “Just saying hello to your new girl”

“Sure you are” He narrows his eyes, watching Kaitlin until she’s deep in the shadows I don’t knohat I did to piss her off, but I don’t want to do it again

“That was Amanda’s sister,” Josh says e’re in the safety of his truck He cranks the heat up for a fewme warm up, then turns the air down to a normal temperature

“Makes sense why she called me a homewrecker” Amanda mustn’t be happy that her speech didn’t drive h without adding in soto convince me that a life with Ashley isn’t as bad as it see me to take on more responsibility Dad acts like I don’t exist And then there’s school

But I hat Josh described the other day A love without limitations A best friend, not a business partner

I’ve never felt enified, good and bad I’ is a leap and then s everything along the way

Mom’s house is filled with aand Christht is more crowded than years past because everyone is in town for the week People I haven’t seen since high school have shown up, so out

I s at the screen door to the patio I told Layla to park at the house and drive the Gator over Everyone knows to leave the road clear, but they park alongside it Judging by how ht, I’d say it’s probably crazy out front

I take a sip ofwith a conversation I didn’t hear I’ve been anxious all day, worried about Layla irl home Not to meet her