Page 76 of Clichés & Curses

‘I know. But you still love me.’

‘Unfortunately.’

‘And for what it’s worth. I really like Colton.’

I snorted at her statement, but failed to keep the smile away from my lips. ‘You’re just saying that because he gave you his bubble tea.’

‘Maybe,’ she shrugged. ‘But you can’t prove it.’

I just laughed at her, grateful to have her company that night and finally letting her know what had been on my mind regarding this whole thing with Colton. While I was glad I could tell Nina about it, telling Eliza—the person I could fully confide in—was something I didn’t know I had been wanting to do. I also couldn’t help but think that her unexpected visit may have been a blessing in disguise after all.

‘I’m glad you’re here,’ I told her once she scooped up the last bit of cake left.

She gave me a smile—a familiar smile that assured me she understood what I truly meant by those four words. ‘Me too.’

Chapter Sixteen

The weekend was shaping up to be great.

Eliza stayed over just long enough, until Nina got home on Friday night, and promised to meet up with us again the next day, since her flight back to New York City was early on Sunday.

Saturday was spent hanging out with the girls as we shopped, got manicures, and simply caught up with each other. We finally met up with Eliza for dinner, before heading back to our apartment and watchedBridget Jones’s Diary, wine glasses filled with rosé in our hands—thanks to Eliza—as we fawned over Mark Darcy. We were up until early dawn, before finally succumbing to our battle against sleep.

We slept in through Sunday. The next morning, I was greeted by the sweet aroma of coffee and pancakes, along with the voice of Taylor Swift, as Lily and Claudia busied themselves in the kitchen making breakfast—or brunch, considering it was almost 11 a.m.

There seemed to be an unsaid rule to our sleepovers: whoever was sleeping over must make breakfast the next day. I would’ve been fine helping them, but they completely blocked me from trying to do so the first time they stayed the night. So, I just tookmy seat at the kitchen island, sipping my coffee while the duo prepared our meals.

Nina woke up just in time as Lily scooped up the last batch of pancakes. We switched locations to the living room instead, turning the TV to a random show on low volume. That was how we spent the next hour: indulging in our food, occasionally chiming in to make random remarks, and conversation starters.

Our time together officially came to an end when Lily and Claudia packed up their things, hugged us goodbyes, as they brought their things out of the door, and headed back to their own apartment.

With the amount of time spent socializing that weekend, I knew I needed to recharge my social battery. Thankfully, Nina was catching up with her homework in her room, leaving the living room all to myself.

I was finally done with my reread ofYou Deserve Each Otherand was pondering on which book I should read next. I eventually decided onBringing Down the Dukeby Evie Dunmore. There’s nothing better to read on a lovely Sunday afternoon than a story about a duke falling in love with a commoner, and doing whatever it takes to have her.

Fifty pages into the book, I decided to take a break, and headed to the kitchen to get some water. When I retook my spot on the couch, I picked up my phone to see if there were any new notifications. It was only when I saw the text that I realized how much I was hoping to see it.

I quickly clicked on the message sent from Colton.

Colton:

Guess who I met today.

An attachment followed the text of a picture of a boy—seemingly eleven or twelve years old, with a huge grin on his faceas he fiercely hugged Colton who wore an identical grin on his own.

Colton:

IT’S PHILLIP!

It took me a few seconds to recall someone named Phillip, until I finally remembered who he was.

Clara:

PHILLIP?

AS IN THE PHILLIP WHO MADE YOU WANT TO TAKE ASL CLASS?

I didn’t know if he was still at the event, so I wasn’t expecting a quick reply. But to my surprise, his reply was immediate.

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