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“But I’m not financing your fresh start.”

“I know.”

“And neither is my family,” I add.

“I know,” she repeats.

I move toward the door.

“So, are you and Blair serious?” Courtney asks behind me.

I turn and give her a look. “You seriously want to ask me that right now?”

“I’m not trying to start anything.” She hesitates, picking at the sleeve of her sweater. “She didn’t have to stop Logan yesterday, but she did.”

“That’s the kind of person she is.”

Courtney offers me a small, tired smile. “For what it’s worth, she seems nice.”

“She is.”

“And you’re serious about her?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I answer without hesitation. “I am.”

Courtney nods like the answer confirms something. “I’m sorry, Dean. For all of it.”

“Yeah.”

It’s the only response I can manage before walking out.

I head back to the shop with my mind somehow clearer than when I left.

Courtney being back hasn’t changed a fucking thing between Blair and me.

If anything, it’s made one thing painfully obvious.

Whatever this is with Blair, I’m done pretending it’s casual.

Tomorrow night, I’m taking my girl out—and making damn sure she knows exactly where I stand.

Twenty Nine

Blair

By Tuesday afternoon, I’ve successfully convinced myself yesterday never happened.

Not Courtney. Not the thirty thousand dollars. Not the look on Dean’s face when I told him.

None of it.

Today, my biggest problem is that Zack has somehow managed to glue two Popsicle sticks to his sleeve, while Aspen is insisting glitter counts as a natural resource.

“It comes from nature,” she argues, looking completely certain.

“Aspen, sweetheart, I promise you glitter does not grow on trees.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “How do you know?”