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horrendous . “Fine.” I downed my water so I had something to do.
    “Just fine?” she asked. “Normally when I ask you a question, you won’t shut up.”
    The drawback to having a best friend was how well they knew you. Harper could read me better than I could read myself. This was dangerous because I didn’t want to ruin her birthday with my bullshit. I could wait until tomorrow to drop my problems on her shoulders. “Well, I got a new plant for my office. It really lightens up the place.” I kept a straight face and pretended to be normal.
    Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
    Goddammit . “For lunch, I ate a salad. I don’t know what I was thinking. I hate salads for a reason, and the leafy lettuce and low-fat dressing was disgusting. I should have gotten a burger instead. What was I thinking?”
    Harper still wasn’t buying it. “Aspen, what happened?”
    Why did she have to know me so damn well? “It’s fine, really. I just had a long day.”
    She leaned closer over the table and examined my face like I was a painting on display. “Have you been crying?”
    “No!”
    “Aspen, you better tell me right now or I’m going to drag it out of you.”
    “It can wait until tomorrow.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Aspen, I don’t care about my birthday and you know that. The only reason I celebrate it is because you force me to. If I had it my way, I’d be drinking in my apartment alone until midnight.” She got that fiery look in her eyes like she wanted to rip me apart. “Now spill it, chicka.”
    “Honestly, it can wait,” I said. “We’re having a good time.”
    She gave me a pissed look, the one she gave before she threw a tantrum. “Don’t make me cause a scene. I’ll do it.”
    I sighed and rolled my eyes at the same time. “Fine.”
    She leaned forward and prepared to listen to my story.
    I told her everything, from bumping into that witch Isabella to the argument I had with my father. I released the air from my lungs when I was finished.
    “Ohmygod!” Harper slammed her fists on the table. “Talk about a day from hell.”
    “Hell is an understatement.”
    “You should have broken that pretty nose of hers.”
    I was more of a lover than a fighter. “Not worth my time. I don’t think it would make me feel better either.”
    “What does he see in her? She’s a total skank.”
    She mentioned he said I was terrible in bed. I admit I wasn’t the adventurous type. John was my first so I didn’t have much experience. I was shocked he would hold that against me. It really hurt my feelings, even though it shouldn’t, so I kept it from Harper. I was embarrassed because I knew John was right. “Well, you like what you like, right?”
    “But I’m more pissed off at your father. I’ve never heard of such a cold tyrant in my life.”
    I shrugged, unsure what to say.
    “All he cares about is how it affects him. Has he ever asked how you felt?” She was practically yelling. “His daughter was dumped for some other girl and all he cares about is his image. It wasn’t even your fault. John was the jackass, not you.”
    “Dad doesn’t see it that way.”
    “And it has nothing to do with your work ethic. It’s not fair!” She slammed her hand on the table again. She was more upset about it than I was.
    “He’s never been an emotional guy. All he cares about is money, and apparently, me being humiliated publicly hurts his bank account in some way.”
    “I’ll take him out,” she said seriously. “I’ll smack him right in front of the media and see how that affects his bank account.”
    A laugh escaped my lips involuntarily. The idea of Harper, a hundred pound woman at five feet in height, smacking my father around was extremely amusing. “I’d pay good money to see that.”
    “Teach that tyrant a lesson…” She shook her head while the anger bubbled in her eyes.
    The waiter brought the dishes. “Extra greasy, just as you asked.”
    “You did good,” I said. “Expect a good