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But I couldn’t wrap my head around why the asbestos removal needed to happen over the next three days. It was very suspicious to me.

“These trades are impossible to book. This is when my guy is free to do it.”

“Your guy?”

“I have a guy.” He shrugged.

“You have a guy for everything.”

“I have a very long resume for the job of great boyfriend.”

That made me laugh. “Yes, you do. I can’t argue with that. Fine. I’ll go to my dad’s. I don’t want to spend money on a hotel when we have all these recent house expenses.” I eyed him. “Do not plan a surprise birthday party for me.”

“I’m not! I promise.”

Ryan appeared behind him. “He’s planning a surprise party for your birthday.”

“Ryan says you are.”

“Ryan is a damn liar. I’m not.” Jake turned around in multiple directions. “Don’t pull this shit, Conroy. That is not cool.”

It made me uneasy to look at Ryan right now.

What was he doing?

What was with all his vague and changing explanations?

Plus, it seemed very obvious to me that Ryan didn’t want me and Jake to be happy together.

“Go away,” I ordered Ryan. “Now.”

“Are you serious?” He pushed himself off of the doorframe. “Don’t do that. Not cool, Bai.”

“What’s not cool is you trying to start crap between me and Jake. So yes, you need to go right now so I can have dinner with my boyfriend.”

Ryan disappeared without saying goodbye.

“He’s gone,” I told Jake.

My boyfriend sighed. “I really don’t like him in and out of here.”

“I need to go to spiritual medium school so I can cast a bubble around our house.”

“If any of that is real, do it as soon as possible.” He patted my backside. “Now go pack a bag.”

“Remind me again where you’re going to be staying? And why can't you stay at my dad’s house with me?”

“I’m staying at my parent’s so I can help my dad repair his fence. You can come with me if you want.”

“Your parents or my dad’s? That’s Sophie’s choice right there.”

FOURTEEN

If there wasa narrator describing my life, he would say, “You have chosen poorly,” in a deep ominous voice.

I knew it immediately the second I stepped into Dad’s and was enveloped in a giant hug by Nancy, his girlfriend. I didn’t know Nancy from Adam, so it seemed overly familiar to me and was wildly uncomfortable. It also felt like I was betraying my mother.

My father gave me a one-armed hug once Nancy finally released me.