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Calla: That is the energy he radiates.

She says this as if she’s ever met the man in person. Or met me in person, for that matter.

Lila: But then! He started thinking about it.

Serena: Oh no.

Calla: Oh yes.

Lila: I am very persuasive.

Lila: I forgot to mention that I may or may not have told Emily I was bringing my boyfriend.

Serena: I’m sorry. Your what?

Calla: Lila. Sweetheart. What the fuck?

I don’t think I’ve ever told them how much they mean to me. How much levity they bring to the shit show that is my life and mind.

Maybe I should.

Or maybe I’ll just keep doing what we do best.

Acting like emotionally stunted goblins and relentlessly roasting each other instead of actually talking about feelings.

Because if there’s one thing I learned after losing Laurel, it’s that grief doesn’t go away.

But if you’re lucky, you find people who help carry it.

Even if they do spend most of their time bullying you.

Lila: LOOK. IT MADE SENSE IN THE MOMENT.

Calla: For whom? A sitcom writer?

Lila: He agreed to come.

Calla: HE WHAT?!

Serena: You realize you’ve now committed yourself to an entire week of playing house with the human equivalent of a permanent scowl.

Lila: It’s fine.

Lila: SO FINE.

Lila: It’s not like I have to do much to actually convince anyone we’re together. It’s just an excuse to get him in the door.

Calla: Famous last words.

Serena: Before we get to the inevitable disaster this is going to be, tell us everything. Give us the Theo Report.

Calla: Right. What’s he like in person? Does he smolder? I feel like he smolders.

Lila: Calla. He glowers.

Calla: Same thing.

Serena: Does he have that whole I’m-about-to-ruin-your-GPA vibe? Maybe if you spend much time around him it will rub off on you and your students will no longer sense the first-year-professor-I-fear-for-my-life vibe you probably emit.