StarNovel22
Chapter 784
"You broke up with Nate, and he just... said nothing?" | blinked at Lena, low-key stunned.
She gave this tiny, tired smile. "Maybe he's done, too. Now he can live his life however he wants-no nagging, no
guilt trips."
Yeah, right. That sounded more like her venting than anything
"Be real. Was breaking up just you blowing off steam? Or did you mean it?"
Lena shook her head. "No, I've actually thought it through."
| snorted, and she laughed. "Seriously. Since | told him to cback to Kehlmark, I've been asking myself-what
do women really want from love and marriage? "Stability, someone to rely on, right? If he can't givethat, |
can give it to myself. So why hold on to love or marriage?"
"Uh, maybe for keeping things... physically interesting?"
She cracked up. "Oh, please. If th
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
"Oh, please. If that's all you want, you can 'buy" it-any flavor, any style,
swap it out when you're bored."
That sentover the edge. "Dr. Lane, you're wild."
Still, | got her point. "Lena, I'm with you, no matter what. | know how tough it is to walk
away from someone. If it gets messy and you need to vent-or grab drinks-just hitup.
"Deal. I'm holding you to that," she said, resting her head against mine. "But, um, | actually need you for
something right now."
"What's up?"
"My grandpa's birthday is today. | can't dodge it anymore."
She looked stressed. Her parents had been hounding her to show up. If she skipped again,
her mom might cut her off entirely.
"Why are you so freaked out? Is your grandpa secretly a fire-breathing dragon?" | asked.
She rolled her eyes. "You're hilarious. You know it's not him."
"You're dodging because you don't want to see Uncle Aaron, huh?"
She didn't deny it.
"I mean, con," | said, nudging her. "You're still hung up on that one awkward incident? The one where you,
uh, accidentally saw a little too much? That was forever ago. Unless..." +26 BONUS
Chapter 784
| tilted my head, giving her a knowing look.
Lena frowned. "Unless what?"
| held up my hands. "Nothing! Forget | said anything."
"Don't act like you don't know what you're implying." She shoved my arm. "He's my uncle!
Then she sighed, long and heavy. "It's just awkward, okay? And after... well, after he saved me, it's even worse. |
just..."
She trailed off, and the hesitation in her voice madepause. "Just what? What happened?
"Nothing!" she said way too quickly. "Anyway, will you cwith me? You always say my grandpa's like yours
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmtoo, remember?"
| laughed. "Are you seriously dragginginto this?"
"Yes or no?" She gavethat look.
"Fine," | sighed, laughing. "But only for the food. | could use sgood family vibes."
As soon as | said it, | froze, the words hittingharder than I'd expected. Even after all those years at the
Johnstons’, | couldn't deny how much | missed the warmth of real family moments.
Lena noticed. She threw an arm around my shoulders. "But you're not getting a free meal. You're buying a gift,
too."
"Fair. But you're helpingpick it out," | said, pulling her toward the gift shops.
At this artsy little store, we spotted Lindey, totally focused on shand-lettered artwork.
She hadn't seen us yet.
"Want to hit another shop?" Lena whispered, clearly worried I'd want to avoid Lindey.
| shook my head. There was no need to. Sure, there were people | had issues with, but Lindey wasn't one of
them.
My parents had drilled one lesson intowhen | was a kid: always keep your grudges and gratitude separate.
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