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Chapter Forty-Five
Bode
“Who will be at thecabin again?” I ask as we drive up a windy, snowy mountain road. Eli’s invited me to Christmas. Why I’m torturing myself in this way, I have no idea? Well, that’s not true. I want to see Juno. I want to know how’s she’s doing. We’ve hardly had any contact since this summer. I ask Eli about her here and there, but I don’t want to see like a psycho stalker or something.
The other truth is, I’m alone. I’m an only child and both of my parents have died. Sure I have some cousins and whatever, but we’re not close. The Sterlings have become my family over the past few years, which is why getting involved with Juno was so incredibly stupid.
“The whole family, of course,” Eli answers. “Lots of babies and toddlers.”
I nod. The Sterlings are reproducing at an impressive rate.
“Juno is bringing her boyfriend.”
I feel like my blood has frozen in my veins. I’m trying to seem chill. “Juno has a boyfriend?”
“Yeah, haven’t I told you about him? I’m not even sure how she met him.”
No. He definitely has not told me about him. I would have remembered.
“She brought him to Thanksgiving.” He gives an exasperated sigh. “He’s so boring. We all hate him.”
Well, that makes me feel better and worse.
“That’s not really fair. We don’t hate him. He’s just about as interesting as cardboard. I don’t know what she sees in him.”
“Oh.” That’s a lot to unpack.
“Anyway, he’s an accountant. Nothing against accountants. This one is just particularly boring.”
“At least he’s not a douche,” I point out. “Like that guy in Italy. Justin the crypto bro.”
Eli frowns at me. “The crypto bro? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I think for a second. I guess I’ve never mentioned Justin to Eli.
“Oh, that’s right. You weren’t there,” I say.
“I’m so confused. She was with someone in Italy? Was this after I left?” He’s growing angry.
“She wasn’t with him,” I say quickly. He calms down a little. “He was at the cooking school. God, he was awful. I overheard him on the phone telling someone he was going to fuck her...”
Eli’s jaw tightens.
“Oh, um, sorry...he was going to be with her so he could brag about it. It would make him famous.”
“Jesus Christ,” Eli hisses. “Was she interested in him?”
