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Also, Connor has found ht? Wait, have you two even met? This is Alan Alan, this is Zak, my hall mate”

I greet the over at the front door, which I have a ure Richie would, at the very least, e me when he’s on his way—if he’s on his way at all

My eyes ular at Aubergines He elbows a friend of his and points at

That’s my cue to look the other way, annoyed Connor and Alan are talking to each other about so—and I have no idea if it’s forthem out I check my phone every time I think of it, afraid I’ve missed the vibration that would indicate an e has come

I’ happened to him? Did he have a heart attack? What if he had a sudden heart attack, overstressed by his huge workload, and no one’s there to help him?

“Are you okay?” asks Connor suddenly

I snap my eyes to him “Sorry?”

“You seee Oh” He peers over his shoulder, his“Is it one of your rabid fans? Do we need to create a diversion? Is it serious?” He nods toward the stairs “There’s a closet off the game room we can hide you in”

Just what I need, to be shoved into a closet

“Excuse me, can I have everyone’s attention, please?” solass

The rooht of a clean-cut, round-faced young guy in a green polo and jeans, standing at the back of the roo s guy must be his beau, Skylar

“Thank you all for co side to side He’s had a drink and a half “I am so … so blessed to be in a room of so many friendly, f-friendly … um, fun faces I’m also blessedme host this lovely celebration here in their house—Thanks, Lena and Es to do tonight, but it means so … so … so much to me that—”