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“Not like I have a lot of time to date anyway.” She grinned. “Notthat I’m dead. Trust me on that.”

“Oh yeah? So, you are still out there noticing people. Women,”Kendra emphasized. “Tell me about who you’ve noticed lately. I’m all ears.”

“No way. You’ll wrap it up into some neat and perfect love packageprobably with hearts all over it. I’m not about that.”

“Tell me who, or I’ll tell your mama about the time you told heryou were sleeping at my place but you’d secretly headed to San Diego to meetthat college girl you were talking to on the internet.”

The smile slid right off Spencer’s face. “You wouldn’t do that.”

“Ms. Adair, you available?” Kendra yelled in the direction of thehouse.

“You’re the fucking worst,” Spencer said, just in time for hermother to appear.

“What do you all have going on out here?” she asked, wiping herhand on a dish towel.

“Fine,” Spencer mouthed discreetly to Kendra, acquiescing.

Kendra smiled sweetly. “I just wanted to tell you how beautifulthese hydrangeas came out this year. I can never get mine to look the way yoursdo. What’s your secret?”

“Sunshine and extra love. I whisper sweet compliments to themdaily when I leave for work. Tell them they’re the best-looking flowers inCalifornia, and how far they’re gonna go in life. That’s the honest secret,too.”

“Well, isn’t that just the best advice?”

“Leave it to Mama,” Spencer said blandly, still glaringhalfheartedly at Kendra for the blackmail.

“I’m gonna make up some to-go plates for you two before I getstarted on myGrey’sAnatomy. I’m up to season four, and don’t even get me going on howdoomed that hospital is.” And with that, she fluttered back into the house.

Once they were alone, Kendra leapt from the porch and down threestairs and stood on the sidewalk smiling up at Spencer. “I’m ready. Who’sfloating your boat these days? If you’re back on Corinne from high school,don’t even tell me. I don’t even want to know.”

“What? No? That woman comes with more drama than the Trump WhiteHouse.” Stuck, and wishing she’d never so much as dropped a hint, she sighed,giving in to Kendra and her unrelenting enthusiasm. Her own fault for droppingthe hint. “Remember the assistant manager from the boutique? She’s a reallynice person is all.”

“Reallynice?”Kendra said, as if there were a bad taste in her mouth. “Really. Nice. Well,that’s a lot to write home about. I couldn’t get my mind off of her, Kendra. Ithink of her hourly. She’s really just so nice. Gets me all hot and bothered.”

Spencer laughed. “Stop it already.”

“No, no. When I’m into a guy, I know that’s the first thing Idaydream about. How polite he is. Not his tight ass or his luscious lips.”

“That’s superficial.”

“That’s human. Is she at least hot?” Kendra kicked her hip out.

Spencer scoffed, again refusing to pay Kendra much attention.“She’s attractive, okay? Yes.”

“Live a little, Spence. Pick a creative adjective and knock me outof my own socks over here.”

“She’s…white.”

“Get the hell out. Spencer and a white girl. Okay, okay. I can getbehind it. You’re branching out.”

She closed her eyes in offense. “I’ve dated white girls. I’vedated Hispanic girls. What are you talking about?”

“Maybe for like two seconds.”

“I’m about the person. Can I help it if we went to a largely blackschool?”

“See, now that’s valid.” Kendra returned to her spot on the step.“So, what’s the plan? Now that I’m heartbroken and on my own love hiatus, Ineed to live vicariously through you, because I’m not ready to get back outthere. Take me on this journey with you.”

“Nope. There’s nothing to live through. I’ve got an almostunattainable deadline to hit and have to practically undo half of my fall line.Lust is fun and all, but it doesn’t help you get ahead.”