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Why was she not freaking out about this? Hoas she so calm? There was so much I wanted to know, so many questions I couldn’t understand how any person could walk away from Ladasha and not look back She was too special

"She was strung out Drunk, high, God knohat else" Ladasha’s sht on what she’d witnessed "She didn’t know e But she kneweyelashes blinked as the tears forut because I a to be in a few years"

"That’s not true," I hissed at her It wasn’t Ladasha was a strong woman She was a friend She was a sister tolike herstripper, Andrea! With no faottears and re as my heart would beat, she would never be alone

"Meow"

I narrowed my eyes and looked at my friend, confused "Excuse me?"

"Oh…that wasn’t e and brown cat resting against her chest "I found her at ry and there was no food over there So I brought her home with me" She paused and looked at ht isn’t it? I didn’t want her to go hungry…"

I laughed, took the cat into my hands, and listened to her purr Ladasha was considerate She was loving She was talented, s like her rinned

"Freckles"

Welcolanced at the time on ht you orking tonight?"

"Roger gave s"

Placing Freckles on the ground, I cleared ain and bitweird?"

"What? Me? I’ht?" I quickly asked, and she looked at me as if I had three heads

There was a knock on the door and Ladasha narrowed her eyes on me She turned towards the door and back to ne" She whispered as she continued to sit on ot--"

"No" She cut me off quickly and sniffed the air around me There was another knock on the door, but Ladasha didn’t care "You’re actually wearing perfuhed and shookDerrick’s sweats You’re wearing a dress A red dress" Knock Knock I should be answering the door but Ladasha was still holdingdeal," I said as I tried to get up Jesus Christ, Ladasha is strong

"You’re wearing your sexy panties, aren’t you?" She mocked me as my cheeks turned as red as my dress She shot up, went over to the door, and opened it My heart skipped a beat when I saw Cooper standing there, camera around his neck Ladasha’s eyes landed on hi his shoulder "What kind of weird shit are you two into?"

I covered hter I watched as Cooper turned even redder than me and tried to explain how he took his ca it

"I don’t think we’ve actuallyue in her cheek Cooper looked like a young guy who just irl’s parents for the first tiressive, but the tiuy was just as yurip for a rew a bit uncomfortable and I watched as his body stiffened "I don’t think so…"

"You’re fros," she exclaiest secret had been revealed

Ladasha let go of his hand, walked into the kitchen, and grabbed a couple beers She proceeded to toss one to me and tossed one to Cooper, who sat his down on the counter "I hate reality shows It takes away from the real actors I mean, ould I watch some reality bullshit when I could watch Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Ryan Gosling for two hours? Reality television is ruining real talent" She opened her can of beer and sipped at it She shifted her eyes to Cooper "I ree with you" Cooper’s nervousness began to subside as he got a feel for the type of loud personality Ladasha held inside of her small frame I stood up fro by the door I e of plans, and he s," he said as he approached me and displayed his dirunted loudly at the idea ofon a dress, and I shot her a stern look, which silenced her giggles

"So what about your wife? Are you two not together?" Ladasha asked She walked over andthis was going to be a long night Cooper sat on the couch and I sat next to him Ladasha’s question was pretty personal, and I could feelfaster

"Panda?" I whispered his way

He grinned and shrugged "It doesn’t count if she asks" He turned to Ladasha and answered the best way he kne "It’s complicated"

"Complicated? Like Nicholas Sparks coht Question after question

"I can’t say I’ve never read his books or seen his movies," he confessed Was I surprised a twenty-five-year-oldNicholas Sparks novels or watching his movies? Not really But Ladasha was shocked Herinto her rooone, I turned to him and he pulled ood to be near hiht she would be at work, and she had a really hard day so I can’t really ask her to leave, and I totally understand if you want to call Panda and hit it out of here and--" I rambled on and on until my words were silenced with his kiss

"I don’t lad he didn’t mind Ladasha reentered with a collection of movies in her hands I quickly removed led her way to sit right in between Cooper and me