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The soccer coach beaenuine, and I envied that about her “Happy birthday, Tara Hope it’s been a good one?”

I shrugged Were birthdays ever any fun after you turned twenty-one? Itwenty-five or thirty? Probably not, but they loved their circle, and pretended to enjoy it Just like I will

“So far so good, I suppose Thanks for co to celebrate”

“Hope that’s okay, I figured thefriends”

That was a laughable state froet to know her

“It’s le person will take solance inside at the table decorated with balloons and strea smile on my face “Let’s do this, ladies”

“That’s thefor” Usually Mara’s sarcasm put a smile on my face, today I just shook s I loved about it, because it ossipers and irlies, look who I found”

At the sight of me, the table went silent and then erupted in birthday wishes “I ondering if you ” Leave it up to ht off the bat

“And miss out on free tacos and quesadillas? I would never, not even if itharassed by my loved ones” With a playful eyeroll I took a seat at the decorated spot, not at the head of the table, but sandwiched right in the irls”

“Happy Birthday,” they all sang at once If it hadn’t been so off-key I ht they’d practiced it

“Let’s get a drink for the birthday girl!” Olive called out, rubbing her ever growing baby buht too, Tara”

“Uarita will be my limit”

“Boo!” Mara jeered, cupping her hands just to make sure the word carried “It’s your birthday, and I’ you at least two shots of tequila”