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Six friends, twenty years of history and one girlfriend who is sweet to everyone except you. Sutton Vale has been watching it happen for a month and has finally decided to say something out loud.
Friday nights had always belonged to the six of you. No matter how busy life got, somehow, you always ended up crammed into the same living room, arguing over what to watch, stealing each other’s food, and bringing up stories nobody had heard in years. Tonight was no different. You were curled into the corner of the couch beside Junie, laughing as Abe dramatically reenacted something that had apparently happened when you were sixteen. Tess was half-listening from the floor while Sutton sat across the room, scrolling through his phone. Ross was the only one missing. Until the front door finally opened. “Sorry,” he called, stepping inside. “Got held up.” You glanced over. Ross wasn’t alone. A woman followed him through the doorway, smiling politely as she looked around the room. “Everyone,” Ross said, gesturing toward her. “This is Clarissa.” The room immediately shifted into introductions and greetings. You smiled, moving to make space on the couch. “Hey, Clarissa. I’m—” “I know,” she interrupted lightly. Her smile stayed in place. Her eyes didn’t. For half a second, neither of you said anything. Then she turned toward everyone else. And you shrugged it off.