Page 160 of Where We Stay

“It is not a walk of shame,” Logan calls after me.

“You’re wearing yesterday’s clothes!”

“That proves nothing!”

I climb into the Kombi, laughing despite myself.

Well, that cheered me up.

A little.

* * *

Aspen skips into the classroom holding a painting of what looks like a sunflower.

“Blair—” She slaps a hand over her mouth. “Miss Morgan.”

She dissolves into giggles, and despite everything, I smile. “Good morning, Aspen.”

She holds the painting out to me. “I made this for you at Nana and Gramps’ house. Daddy said you would like it.”

The mention of Dean makes my chest tighten, but I take the painting and admire the bright yellow petals covering the page.

“Thank you so much. I love it.” I smile down at her. “I’m going to put it on my refrigerator when I get home.”

“Are you coming over this week?” she asks.

Fuck.

This is exactly what I was afraid of.

“Maybe,” I say carefully. “I’m not sure yet, sweetie. I’ll talk to your dad.”

“Okay.” Aspen accepts the answer without question and skips over to her desk, completely unaware of the mess inside my head.

By lunch, I’m desperate for a girls’ night. I need people to talk this through with—not the messages or my entire history, but the Dean parts.

The girls have known him forever, and one of them is his sister, so asking for their advice could either be exactly what I need or blow up spectacularly in my face.

At this point, I’m willing to risk it.

At least there will be tequila.

ME: Girls’ night on Friday?

G: Only if you promise not to bring up what you saw this morning.

ME: No can do. I don’t make promises I can’t keep.

G: Bitch. But yes. I’ll text Mal and Rory.

Two minutes later, I’m added to a group chat called HARTY BITCHES.

Good one, G.

G: Blair wants a girls’ night on Friday. Salt & Oak?

RORY: I’m in. I need a drink after the week I’ve had. Knox is pissing me off more than usual.