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“Hey, didItell y’allIgot a replacement forTaintedMemories?”

Dadturns down the volume. “No.When’dthat happen?”

“Thismorning.”Igulp down chilly margarita. “Igot a call fromAbjured, the deathcore bandIwas supposed to work with at the studio.They’reincredible—think they’ll be a great shoo-in.”

“Signed?”

“Nah.”

Dadmakes a face. “Well, you’ve never doneNYBwrong with the lineups you’ve picked.Stillupset aboutTaintedMemories, though.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

“Youknow if it wasn’t for our steep deposit, they would’ve stalked you all the way here, right?”Tysays.

Iflash him a smile beforeDadasks who’s coming up on the studio’s schedule.

Brandyswirls the lemonade in her glass. “Sohow’s your friend?”Idare to ask.

“Whatfriend?”

“Norma.Yournew bestie.”

Brandyscoffs. “Isure can pick best friends,I’lltell you that much.”

Mybrows knit. “Whatd’you mean?”

“Toldher the good news,” she starts. “ButIguess my good news is her cue to say ‘adios.’”

“Oh.”Ifrown at my margarita. “Well, that’s extra shitty.I’msorry about that.”

Theguys jabber on,Momeventually joining in and proddingTyabout how his stepmom is doing.Myfloat bumps intoBrandy’s, but she doesn’t immediately shove me away likeI’dexpected.

Shestares at me intently, summing me up in a wayI’venever seen her do before. “Didyou really not knowAdrianwas seeing someone?”

Ishake my head. “Iwent back and saw thatIliked their relationship status update, butIswear,Idon’t remember it.”

“Whydidn’t you tell her?”Brandydemands. “Shesaid she ran into you leaving their place, and you didn’t say a word.Why?”

“Whatdo you do in that situation?Ididn’t know what to do besides get the hell outta there.Isat in my car and beat myself up over it afterward.”Iknock back the rest of my margarita and grimace from the freeze attempting to work its way to my brain. “Yougotta knowIwasn’t there to stealAdrianfrom his girlfriend.Iwasn’t aware, and he didn’t tell me.Ifhe told me,Iwouldn’t have let any of that happen.”

“Butyou’re still going out with him,” she says. “Evenaftereverything, you’re still dating him.”

“I’mnot dating him.”Iseethe. “He’san asshole who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

Sheclucks her tongue. “Areyou even actually telling him ‘no’?Becauseyour track record withZakandAdrianboth says otherwise.”

Mygaze drops, mouth drying out.

“Yeah, that’s whatIthought.”

Thankfully,Dadhollers for everyone to make a plate.

Onour way to the table,ItouchBrandy’sarm. “IknowI’ma shitty person, but if you’d like for a friend to throw you a baby shower when the time comes, or help you with anything,I’dbe honored.”

Hermouth scrunches to the side, but her eyes soften before looking away.And, to my surprise, she nods.

Holyshit.