Page 146 of What I Like About You

Besides updating REX, Nash has otherwise been pretty off the grid.

“You need an apology strategy,” Amy says. “I’m thinking big and grand gesture-y, just so we’re clear.”

“Supergrand gesture-y.” Samira nods.

“I—” I’m cut off by a knock on my door. “One sec.”

Gramps pokes his head in as I press mute on my mic.

“Hey, Hal. You’ve got some visitors downstairs.”

I frown, confused. “Really?”

“I told them you’d be right down.”

Gramps is gone before I can even ask who’s here.

I unmute my mic. “Sorry, guys. I need to run. But re: grand gesture … I am open to anything.”

“Don’t give us that much power,” Elle says.

“We’ll think of something,” Samira says.

“Later, Halle/Kels,” Amy says.

I shut my laptop and head downstairs feeling the weirdest mix of nausea and hopefulness.

“Hey.”

Molly and Autumn are at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for me. Here. At Gramps’s. We haven’t spoken words to one another since before I broke their best friend’s heart.

“Can we sit?” Autumn asks.

“We’re going to sit,” Molly says.

I nod. But I’m so confused.

They hate me.

They’re Team Nash. I accepted it weeks ago. I lied to them, too.

I swallow. “Hi.”

Silence.

Molly and Autumn look at each other.

Then at me.

Then back at each other.

“Hi?” Autumn asks. “Seriously, Hal?”

“Where is our explanation? We’ve been waiting”—Molly looks down at her smartwatch—“six weeks.”

I blink. “What?”

“You didn’t answer our texts,” Autumn says.

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