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“Don’t do it,” The Mouse says “Too messy—”

“Stop,” Maggie shouts

The Mouse and I look at each other and immediately shut our traps

“Okay” Maggie takes a deep breath “It happened My worst fear It came true”

The Mouse looks up at the ceiling “Maggie,” she says patiently “We can’t help you unless you tell us what ‘it’ is”

“Don’t you know?” Her voice rises to a wail “Peter broke up withJen P”

I nearly fall off my barstool

“That’s right,” she snarls “After we had that big fight on Wednesday afternoon, you know”—she looks at ywas okay And then this afternoon, he calls me and says we have to talk”

“Uh-oh—”

“So he coie’s shoulders collapse at the memory “He—he said he couldn’t see me anymore He said it was over”

“But why?”

“Because he’s interested in Jen P He wants to date her”

Crap This is my fault How could I be so stupid? But I never expected anyone to actually take those stories in The Nut seriously

“No way,” The Mouse says finally

“Yes, way,” Maggie says She orders another vodka, takes a sip, and puts it down She’s beginning to slur her words “He said he asked his ht, and she said he was too young to be seriously involved with one girl and should ‘explore his options’ Have you ever heard anyone even talk like that? And it wasn’t hishis mother as an excuse”