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Was the sex that bad? Ugh.

“See if Nancy says the same thing,” I said, putting on a smile. “I’ll bet she has some complaints about us youth.”

“Ah, c’mon. You know she loves you, no matter how much she complains.” He held up the box in a wave. “See you tomorrow, Paisley.”

“See you tomorrow.” I was back to the text with Oliver as soon as he was out the door, checking over the pictures he sent, and I typed up suggestions for it while I headed out onto the floor and tidied up the shelves. Rung up Krystal for her cinnamon chip muffins and headed into the back to finish up the next round of baking, rotating racks in and out of the ovens, getting the fresh pies out to cool, getting the cookies out into their clamshells for the floor. Just carrying on through the little gestures, the little motions, all just for something to focus on, and when I got back to the floor, I scowled at the sight of Emberlynn there at the counter with a multigrain loaf.

She was in late. I hated knowing what that meant.

“Sorry, we’re closed to huge losers,” I said, walking past her and getting the huge stack of cookie clamshells onto the shelves.

“I just saw Millie Cooke walk out of here this morning with arms loaded, and I know how you feel about her.”

“Yeah, she was unbearable. Just the worst. I decided to enact the policy in the wake of her being in here.”

“You know, just because she beats you at card games…”

I finished getting the last of the cookies on the shelf, walking back around to ring up Emberlynn’s order. “Enough talk of her. Makes me gag. Ugh. Well, I didn’t put up the no-losers sign in the window yet, so I guess you get in on a technicality. What’re you doing for dinner?”

“That pumpkin sage soup you love. Aria leaked the family recipe to me, and I’m feeding you tonight.”

I sighed. I didn’t like being read as so miserable that I couldn’t cook for myself, or the way Emberlynn had fussed over me eating ever since I got hospitalized. “I can feed myself.”

She shoved a hand in her pocket, looking away. “Do you know how much it worries me whenyourefuse free food?”

“I’m not refusing free food, I’m going to eat it. I’m objecting to being patronized.”

“We cook for each other all the time. You’re just touchy about it now.”

“Yeah, well, nyeh-nyeh. Just the bread?”

“Just the bread.”

I bagged the bread, taking her card and ringing her up. “Hear back from your label manager friend yet? What was his name, Edgar?”

“Uh. Do you mean Julie?”

“Yeah, her. You hear back yet?”

She looked away. “Yeah, considering me for the next album… last one went well, but she likes Philip, so after how much he shit-talked me last time, it’s kind of up in the air.”

“This label is nothing but trouble.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. Makes me wonder why I get caught up in this stuff.”

An awkward silence settled over both of us. I tore her receipt once it finished printing, tossed it in the trash can, and I handed the bag over without a word. She took it, without a word.

When someone pushed out through the door behind her, she jolted back to the present and put on a thin smile.

“I’m okay, though. Really. I conquered my demons getting things done with them after all, and I don’t really care if they don’t want me back.”

“Sounds like sour grapes to me, but what does little old Paisley know?”

“How to stick her nose into everything.”

I felt a smile come on. “Too true. Any update on your family?”

“Yup. Mom’s arriving on the Monday before Thanksgiving, and what’s more, my sister’s apparently getting that whole week off, so she’s coming by too. Hallelujah.”