Cookie

6

Sure! Here’s your entire chapter rewritten with improved flow, clarity, and natural dialogue while keeping the original tone and emotions intact:

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Chapter [Title Here]

"I brought chips, brownies, and your favorite Chinese food."

Mary steps into my house, balancing two large bags in her hands as I open the door for her. She gives me a once-over, then frowns.

"Why are you still in your pajamas, Nat?"

I glance at her outfit—black pants that hug her in all the right places, a white top with a dangerously low neckline—and then at my own. My pink cat onesie, a Christmas gift from my grandmother, suddenly feels ten times more embarrassing.

"Wait a second..." Her eyes widen. "Tell me you didn’t actually invite us over tonight."

She groans, slamming the bags onto my kitchen table.

"Ugh, I knew something felt off!"

I shake my head, still processing her words. Us?

"Who’s ‘us’?" I ask, half smiling, half dreading the answer.

Mary ignores me, too busy fuming. "I am going to kill Liam. I should’ve known you wouldn’t ask him to tell us something. For fuck’s sake, we have phones!"

My stomach drops. Liam is coming here? Oh God. If Tiffany finds out, I’m screwed. No, I’m dead. I grab Mary’s hands, panic seeping into my voice.

"Please call Logan," I beg. "Tell him Liam can’t come. I can’t keep talking to him, Mary. My life is already complicated enough."

I’m talking so fast that she doesn’t even question me. She just grabs her phone and dials.

"Hey, Logan, did you guys leave yet?"

I can’t hear his response, but I really hope he says no. Otherwise, I’ll feel awful.

Liam is impossible to figure out. One second, he’s nice. The next, he’s making some rude comment. Then he defends me. Then he’s an ass again. Then he apologizes. And now he’s pulling this?

"Look," Mary says into the phone, "Nataly didn’t actually invite us over. Liam was screwing with her, and I swear I’m going to kill him for it. Thank God she’s home alone and doesn’t have to explain to her parents why I just showed up with two bags of food. Just come pick me up. We’ll go to a movie instead."

She sounds disappointed now, and irritation flares in me. Why does Liam keep messing with my life?

The truth is, I wouldn’t mind having company tonight. Mary always makes me feel better, and Logan seems nice.

"You can stay," I tell her, "and Logan can come over. But without Liam. Okay?"

"Are you sure, Twinkle?"

I nod. She gives me a knowing look before speaking into the phone again.

"Did you hear that? Just get your ass over here and leave your brother behind. See you soon."

She hangs up, shaking her head. "God, Liam is so annoying sometimes."

I don’t respond. Instead, I start the coffee maker, exhaustion hitting me like a wave.

Mary leans against the counter, watching me. "What happened with Liam, anyway? He told Logan he apologized to you and that you guys agreed to be friends."

I grab three mugs and set them on a tray next to the milk.

"Yeah. He did. But there’s something going on between him and Tiffany, and she already threatened me today. I don’t want to give her another reason to hate me."