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“Dibs on the chocolate croissant.”

River is studying Bruno with intent eyes, but surprisingly enough, she says nothing.

Bruno pushes the plate over to Skye. She grabs the croissant and pushes the plate to River, who takes a cupcake before offering me the plate.

I shake my head.

“Still got my cookies, thanks.”

“So, this date you two are going on,” River says to me.

“Where are you going and what are you doing?”

Chapter Five

I haven’t seenLogan since the morning we met at Pat’s. If it wasn’t for the texts he’s been sending me every day, throughout the day, I’d think he’s changed his mind.

My phone rings, and the sound ofGirls Just Wanna Have Funby Cyndi Lauper tells me Mom is calling me.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, sweetie. I heard you got yourself a hot cop.”

Freaking River. She already blabbed about my date with Logan.

“Oh, River told you?”

“Yes. Are you excited about it?”

“Mom.”

“Honey, it’s a date, not marriage. Just go and have fun. If you don’t like him by the end of the date, say thank you and goodbye. You’re not obligated to do it again.”

“Have you met me? I’m so bad at this.”

“You worry too much. Live a little. Enjoy yourself and your body while you’re still young.”

“I’m not good at that either.”

“There’s nothing wrong with some casual dating and hooking up. As long as you both know it's just that, casual, so no one gets hurt.”

I have the most open-minded mother in the universe. Dad is not far behind her.

“You know what I always say, Skye.”

“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” we say at the same time.

It's her personal motto and a not so subtle stab at misogyny. Gender equality and all that, starting at the very core of what makes men and women different—sex.

“I know it's cliché, but what people have between their legs should not dictate how they live their lives.”

“I know. You’re right.”

“Honey, don’t allow what happened before tarnish who you are today and how to live your life.”

“Mistakes have a way of following you around.”

“There are no mistakes in life. Only lessons. You learned from it. Now you have to bless it and let it go, or you’ll be chained to it for the rest of your life.”