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Elara raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you didn't want to talk?"
"Yes. No. I don't know," I stammered. "I didn’t tell the girls to get you."
She gave me a small, tight-lipped smile. "Well, if you don't want to talk, I'll head back. I'm actually in the middle of packing."
My heart dropped. "You're leaving?"
Elara nodded. She chewed her lip and stroked her left arm absentmindedly. "I got into the pastry school."
"Elara, that's amazing!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my happiness for her. Without thinking, I rushed over and pulled her into a hug. She stiffened in my arms, clearly caught off guard by my sudden display of affection. "Sorry," I mumbled, letting her go. "I'm just really proud of you. Well, not proud, because it’s not my place to be proud of you, but . . . I’m impressed. Really impressed with you. Not that I ever doubted you. I’ll stop talking now."
"Thank you," she whispered, looking away, cheeks flushed. Then, to Rhea, “And I’m proud of you for acing your grading!”
“Grandma said I was close to double grading!” Rhea beamed.
“Double grading? Is that a thing?”
"So, when are you leaving?" I asked.
"Tomorrow," she replied softly. "The course doesn’t start for a while but I figured I'd get set up early."
"You found an apartment?"
"Staying with a friend until I get on my feet.”
“Pavel?”
She looked surprised. “You remembered his name? No, actually. I’m staying with another colleague from The Tortoise.”
“Not your sleazy boss though, right?”
Rhea interrupted. “What does sleazy mean?”
I didn’t miss a beat. “Someone who’s a bit like Bryce.”
Lexi laughed. “You shouldn’t be mean to Bryce. Mom said.”
“Your mom is right,” I grumbled. “Bryce isn’t sleazy. He’s a perfect gentleman.”
“I can tell when you’re being sarcastic, Dad,” Rhea said.
For a moment, Elara smiled, and it felt as though the world was briefly a better place.
“I’m not staying with Luigi,” she said. “Absolutely not. I'm staying with Helen."
"Good. Well." An awkward moment hung between us. I didn't want to ask about selling the bar. It was none of my business. "I hope it goes well for you."
Elara nodded. “Thanks. Same to you. I hope . . . everything in your life . . . goes well for you.”
There was a lump in my throat. I wanted to tell her that nothing would go well if she left. But I didn't. That wasn’t the sort of thing you said when a fling ended. I held out my hand. "Goodbye then, Elara."
She shook my hand quickly, then let go. "Goodbye." She paused, as if trying to find the right words. As she turned to leave, she added, "I didn't sell to 7-Eleven, by the way." Before I could respond, she slipped out the door.
***
By the time Dad and Susie arrived, I was a mess. My stomach twisted in knots as I stood in the kitchen, trying to focus on finishing dinner.
"Grandpa and Grandma are here!" Lexi squealed, rushing to open the door.
