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Of course this girl is her best friend

When we’re all seated in a booth at Chili’s, Eestures tointo her offhand tone is a note of fangirl enthusiaslance down at my chest and back up "Oh, yeah They’re brilliant Have you seen thes "Not yet, but I definitely will You?"

I nod "A couple times"

"What? Really?" So ether to try to rein in her interest while Derek and Ee suppressed smiles

"Yeah, I know the bassist and the druuys"

Her mouth drops "Get out"

"Yeah They’re supposed to do Unplugged later in the su, if you’re going to be in New York" Emma’s hand slips into mine and she pulls it onto her lap I squeeze her hand and she squeezes back

Euess she doesn’t stun easily Or often "Uh, yeah, that would be great"

Derek clears his throat to hide a laugh "So you went to Coluht?"

"No Literature" I expect hi else to say But no, he plans to study English at CSU Long Beach, where Ey When we start to discuss literary theory and writing prograirls rin at each other, covertly

And just like that, I’m in

Chapter 29

REID

The last expression I expect to see on Emma’s face Monday afternoon is joy

After e to be called onto the Conan set At first, I think she’s faking happy to get through the interview Then I realize it’s legit Four days ago, I showed Emma a photo that should have devastated her, and wrecked any would-be relationship she’d begun with Graham Instead, she looks like sunshine

"This is an unexpected transforreen roohtly She doesn’t seem to notice There’s no doubt into do with ht about that picture"

"Oh?"

"They fell asleep next to each other, but nothing else happened You ames with you or whatever, because it looks like you’re the only one she sent it to"

So Grahaed to convince her that nothing happened? I’ht I consider the two possibilities: either he intends to string the… or he considers Brooke a one-time hookup--a mistake that he doesn’t intend to repeat

"I knohat you’re thinking," E?"

"That he’s lying to me But I know he’s not"

Unbelievable Practically everything I did last fall earned E to overlook? "So even after a co--photo of hiht be cheating I gotta hand it to the guy--he’s a god, if he can get aith that one"

She sighs "Not every guy is a player, Reid"

"Ouch"

"I didn’t mean it like that"

I look steadily back at her, and don’t ask what other way she could possibly mean it The possible responses are a jumble of pithy and serious and harsh and flirtatious, and in the end nothing works so I say nothing After a few seconds, she looks away

A set assistant pops in to tell us we have fiveeye contact Intending tous back to center, I ask what she did over the weekend

"I hung out with Emily And, um, Graham was in Sacramento Saturday and Sunday"

"Ah" The hell? My brain is whirring with the reasons why Graham would travel cross-country to make sure of her I suspect Brooke is unaware of this little developht, and they played the trailer for School Pride I know it’s routine for you, but watching e The h"