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“Yep,” Fatima answers.
“I was a couple of grades behind them and went to a different high school,” Novalee says. “I only knew of them through Fatima.”
“You and Fatima are cousins, right?”
“Yep. My stepmom and Fatima’s dad are siblings.”
“Cool.” I nod and eat another bite of cake.
“Daryl was the dog. Quentin was the best at hiding his asshole ways, but he was cold as ice. Conner was the meanest—I’m talking zero fucks given. Hunter, hands down, was the douchiest of them all.”
I chuckle. “Really?” I think back to what Priscilla said about Hunter being an asshole in his teenage years.
“But we love Hunter. He’s fam,” Fatima says.
“Hunter is really great,” Novalee says.
“We know you guys are just friends,” Fatima says.
“And it’s none of our business,” Novalee cuts in. Anytime someone leads with it’s none of my business, it means they’re about to get all up in yours.
“But we like you,” Fatima says. It’s cute how they finish each other’s sentences.
“And we like you and Hunter together. The girls he used to bring around … well …” Novalee scrunches her freckled face.
“They were annoying as fuck.”
“Cousin,” Novalee chides.
“Well, they were. Even Hunter knows it. That’s why they never last.”
That’s not the reason they don’t last. But that’s neither here nor there. “Sorry to break it to you, ladies, but Hunter and I are just friends.”
Fatima frowns. “Well, that's unfortunate.”
Novalee presses her lips together in a rueful smile. “We won’t be those pushy friends who are forever trying to hook you guys up.”
“Novalee’s right. We’ll mind our business. But dammit, you guys are adorable.”
“You and Quentin are the adorable ones,” I say.
Fatima flashes a grin that deepens the dimples on her cheeks. “We are. Aren’t we?”
Novalee rolls her eyes. “They really are.”
“You and Conner are hashtag goals. For real,” I say. “He’s kind of intense, but the way he looks at you …” I fan myself.
“Oh, he’s obsessed with Novalee,” Fatima says, matter-of-fact.
“We’re obsessed with each other.”
“Aww.” I pout.
“I know Hunter’s been keeping you all to himself, but he’s going to have to share you now,” Fatima says, and I almost mention him saying that just this morning.
“Fatima and I keep our circle tight, but we can tell you’re good people.”
“I try to be,” I say.
