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The Reconciliation

Jeanette watches as Chris stirs in his sleep. She whispers at Logan. "I think he's waking up."

Logan, still planted by the door leaning against the wall, reaches for the handle. "Should I get the doctor?"

Chris's movements calm down as he continues to sleep.

"No, he's still sleeping."

"You might have to just leave it at this. I don't know how much more time them..." He pauses trying to think of a better word than the one he wants to call them.

Jeanette fills in his blank. "...bitches. I can say it, you shouldn't."

He nods in agreement. "Yeah, but I should get a pass this one time. I can't think of nothing else to call them but bit.."

"Logan!"

"I'm kidding."

She laughs. "You're so silly." The first time she genuinely laughed since before she got the call about Chris having been shot. Her joy is short lived because in the next instant she's back serious.

She sighs. "I need answers. Everything you've told me makes sense."

"But?"

"But what Simone says makes sense too. And Logan, I swear I will lose my shit if he played me."

"Don't do that. You've come too far to let that nigga set you back. If he goes back to Simone let her have his ass. They ain't gonna do anything but make each other miserable anyway. He'll still be broke and she'll find somebody else to owe that'll get him caught up."

Logan walks over to her and wraps her into a tight hug. "But honestly, I don't think it's gonna come to that."

"Why do you say that?"

/~/~/~/~/~/ January 2023 \~\~\~\~\~\

Familiar Stranger

"I'll take two strawberry and creme cinnamon rolls please."

"What else can I get for you?"

"That's all. Well, if I don't get something for Logi too, she'll have my head." She laughs.

"Oh, we can't have that." The barista at Bookholic Cafe chuckles. "What would this Miss Logi like?"

"A unicorn frappe."

"Name for the order?"

"Jeanette."

"It'll be out shortly."

"Thank you!"

Jeanette stands off to the side scrolling through the group chat messages between her and her sisters, smiling as she does.

The well-dressed man who had been quietly ogling her from behind his laptop perks all the way up when he hears her name. He stands, straightens his suit and tie, then walks over to her. Standing so close he towers over her, casting a shadow on her phone.

As she slowly raises her head in annoyance to address the creep invading her personal space, the man says, "Hey Jeannie."

She knows that voice no matter how long she spent trying to forget it. And that nickname. There is literally only one person in the entire world that calls her Jeannie, and it can't be him. How could it be? What are the chances their paths would cross after three decades? But sure enough it's Chris, smiling from ear to ear.