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irritation setting in. "I don't expect the two of you to patch things up instantly, but it has to happen eventually."
    "And if it doesn't, then what? Do you forget what she said about me?"
    "No, but she promised me she would stop this. I'm asking you to do the same."
    "I didn't do anything. I'm telling you that I'm not ready to see her, let alone have her hand around here."
    He tapped his fingers on the table. "Then one of us has to think about moving out."
    I raised my eyebrows. These were Bianca's words. She'd planted the idea in his head because this wasn't something Jake would come up with. Only a few weeks ago he'd begged me to stay. "You know, I've put up with a lot. I'm the injured party and you can't wait to get rid of me. So I will take your suggestion under advisement and I'll look for another place to live because I think that's what you're implying."
    "I'm trying to find a solution. I don't want you to leave."
    "You are picking her over me."
    "I'm not, but I don't think you're being reasonable."
    I got up unable to stomach this conversation any longer. "We can talk about this again later."
    "Think about everything I've said. Moving on is best. That's the win-win solution for all of us."
    ~~~~~~~
    I made éclairs, three batches until I had the custard filling just right. I then texted Zach to tell him the good news. A couple of hours later he replied. I'd cleaned the kitchen, bathroom and finished the last few pages of my English paper by then.
    Zach: How do I get my hands on said éclairs?
    Me: You could come get them or I could bring them to work tomorrow.
    Zach: I can come get them. You busy now?
    Other than being dressed in sweat pants and an old t-shirt that had more holes than Swiss cheese, why couldn't he come over? Jake wasn't around and I'd spent much of the day in the apartment. Having a guest, my friend, was a great idea.
    Me: Nope. Come now if you want.
    I changed into jeans and a sweater and fixed up my hair. When I played tennis I used to keep it long that way I could easily tame it, but the moment I quit playing competitively, the first thing I did was lop it off. I regretted the pixie cut and now compromised by keeping it shoulder length. I could put it up in a pinch or let it go into its gentle wave. Unlike Dad, my hair was a rich auburn, drastically different from his dirty blond hair that turned into a light blond in the summer. I also had Meredith's hazel eyes, but I would have killed to have Dad's big blue ones. Other than the shape of our faces, noses and Dad's height, you wouldn't think we were related. I looked like her . . . Meredith. That prompted my grandparents to seek a paternity test. Dad told me about it when I was old enough to understand. He didn't want me to hear it from anyone else. He insisted he knew I was his girl the second I was born. As for Grandma and Grandpa, they never spoke of it. My best guess was that they were embarrassed about it.
    I put on coffee and as it finished brewing, Zach arrived. I buzzed him into the building and left our front door open. He popped his head in and I waved.
    "I'm in the kitchen pouring coffee," I called out.
    "It smells amazing in here," he said. "Coffee and éclairs. I could marry you."
    I laughed and thought of what Jessica said. "I'm too young to get hitched. Besides, I hear you're not the marrying kind," I said, handing him a steaming mug.
    "Ah, gossip. What have you heard?"
    "Not much," I said, plating the éclairs. "When you came into Julian's, my co-worker was fascinated that I knew you. She warned me not to date you because you get bored easily and used to throw crazy parties, or something like that. Where should we eat the éclairs? Kitchen or living room?"
    His brown eyes gave off a spark. "You're so casual about all that. I get bored easily to where should we eat."
    I shrugged. "If you get bored what's the big deal? And haven't you been dating Becca for a long time?"
    He frowned. "About Becca. I broke up with her a few weeks