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“Great to esture

Kendi’s a bit on the reserved side Not unlike myself It took years before she finally waret to know her—just in tinant Had Blaire been around in those early days, I iht Kendi out of her shell better than anyone She was always good at that—getting a person to talk andthem feel like they’ve known her their whole life

“Sweetheart, I’ht over here, between Wyatt and Cash,” Mao … Wyatt!”

Gathering a tight breath into rand entrance—all eyes on me

“Blaire,” I say when I take my seat

“Wyatt,” she says, ht is gone, though I i on her best face for Mama’s sake

“Now that everyone’s here,” Ma in, all”

Dishes are passed around the table, silverware tinkles against plates, Cash asks if there are any mushrooms in the casserole, and McCoy makes faces at Daisy from his side of the table It’s just another Sunday supper—but it isn’t

Blaire passesa quick rush downso s Once upon a ti twice And ere always touching Holding hands through the hallways of school My hand cupping her inner thigh when she rode shotgun inon the back of my shoulder when she’d ride on the back of my quad when I’d check cattle

The sweet scent of her perfume—one that’s new and unfamiliar—floats on a delicate breeze in my direction When she was mine, she used to wear this French brand that slass bottle and I couldn’t pronounce the nao on vacation with her parents, at some little boutique her steph, I can still sing to her soft, bare skin late into the night

“So, Blaire, are you acting in New York or what are you doing these days?” Tripp asks

“I’ tables I guess I’e of my career”

She gives a humble chuckle

I take coiven up on her drea

“What kind of work have you done so far?” Maht have seen?”

“A handful of off-Broadway shows so far,” she says “And twice a week, I act as a live et to play sick My roo”