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Snatching it up, I glance at the caller ID. A video call from Lana.

“Happy birthday!” she screams into the receiver when I pick up. “Thirty years old. Welcome to the cool club!”

I snicker, my earlier melancholy vanishing. “You look like you’re going to a New Year’s Eve party.”

The woman even has on a gold cone party hat and a noisemaker.

“I would be flying over and taking you to party in person if it weren’t for—ouch!”

Five more heads pop onto the screen, all of them wearing the same identical party hats. They look like they’re gathered at the Anderson Estate.

“Lana! Seriously, zip it.” Taylor playfully smacks her on the head.

“So violent, sorry, Lana. Tay is only graceful in the ballet studio.” Grace grins at the now scowling Lana.

“What’s going on?” My brows furrow. “I’m confused.”

The girls swivel their attention toward me, their eyes comically huge.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” Alexis blinks as if a stray lash fell into her eye.

Suspicious. They’re up to no good.

“We want to say happy birthday and tell you we’re thinking about you today,” Belle says. “We miss you on our girls’ nights.”

“You just want to party it up without little Levi.” Millie snorts and plops a gummy bear into her mouth. She loves those things, and Ryland buys them in bulk for her.

Belle grabs a fistful of gummy bears and chucks a few at her. Millie squeals.

“What are your plans for today? Hope you’re doing something nice for yourself,” Lana says.

“Going to visit Mia at the cemetery, then spend my day at a bookstore. I might even try to squeeze in a facial.”

“You coming back soon?” Grace asks. “Any updates from OPMC?”

A bowling ball settles on top of my chest. The last update was this morning via email, a simple“Dr. Lin, we have concluded our investigation and will rule on your case soon.”

It’s nerve racking, not knowing if I even have a career to return to.

I shake my head. “No. Not yet. I think I need to find a Plan B. Go into academia like you, Millie. But who would want a disgraced faculty on their roster?”

“Things will work out. If I believe it, who’s to say it isn’t true?” Alexis quips.

I smile. This is one of her many positive mottos and I love her for it.

“You’re right.”

“Keep your chin up,” Lana says. “I have a feelingeverythingwill work out just fine.”

The mysterious, secretive smile is back, and once again, my hackles rise.

“What are you hiding, Lana?”

She jolts, her face flushing, and the girls groan.

Taylor grabs the phone from her.

“Oh look, uh, we’re late for an appointment,” she stammers. “Gotta go. Love you. Happy birthday, girl.”