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activity.
    “You’re in for a treat this morning, Lexi. Mike is making his famous buttermilk pancakes!” Ashley said.
    “And bacon.” Lexi’s nose had already detected that much. “It all smells fantastic.”
    “Well, I do dinner better, but this should be decent,” Mike said.
    “You don’t give yourself enough credit. Everything you cook is good,” Ashley said with a smile as she snuck a piece of bacon.
    Mike set more than enough food on the counter, buffet style—bacon, buttermilk pancakes, freshly whipped cream, and sugared strawberries. He obviously was used to cooking for a crowd.
    “Thank you, Mike. This is amazing.” Lexi sat at the table and took a bite of pancake.
    “You’re certainly welcome, Lexi.” Mike joined the girls and set his plate and juice down on the table. “Caleb called this morning,” he said to Ashley.
    “Remember, Caleb is Mike’s brother,” Ashley said in a whisper to Lexi.
    Lexi nodded.
    “He’s broken up with Corrine,” Mike said with a smile.
    Ashley choked on the lemon water she was drinking, and Mike patted her on the back until her throat cleared. “When did this happen?” she asked in a croak.
    “Friday evening. He told me that he’d wanted to break things off before, but she would always rein him back in somehow,” Mike said.
    “So this is good news?” Lexi asked.
    “Oh yeah. It’s good news,” Ashley said.
    “Hopefully, I’ll get to see more of him now. They’d come in the restaurant occasionally, but she took up a lot of his time. It’ll be good having my brother back,” Mike said.
    “Plus, we won’t have to be nice to Ms. Perfect either,” Ashley said in a catty tone.
    Mike nodded as he chewed a slice of bacon.
    After breakfast, Lexi insisted on doing the dishes. The whole process wasn’t too bad since there was a dishwasher in the kitchen. Her mom’s house only had the sink, so Lexi didn’t mind doing the dishes if it meant using the dishwasher.
    When Lexi finished, she headed back upstairs to get dressed.
    “Hey, Lexi,” Ashley called.
    “Yes,” Lexi said as she walked into the living room, where Ashley was sitting on the sofa. Lexi froze. There were scissors, gauze wrap, and antibiotic ointment laid out on the coffee table.
    “You’ll need a fresh bandage. Yours is getting worn and dingy,” Ashley said.
    “Um. It’s fine. Really.”
    “At least let me try. If I hurt you, then I’ll stop. I promise.”
    Lexi walked slowly toward the couch, but hesitated. Ashley wouldn’t intentionally hurt her, but that didn’t mean it would be painless. Lexi finally sat down, and when Ashley picked up the small cuticle scissors, Lexi’s vision began to blur.
    “No. This won’t work.” Lexi held her hand to her head. “I feel like I’m either going to pass out or throw up.”
    Ashley set down the scissors and fanned Lexi with a Coastal Living magazine that had been sitting on the coffee table. “Put your head between your knees. That’s supposed to keep you from passing out.”
    Lexi reluctantly did as Ashley instructed and tried to breathe at a normal pace. Within minutes the waves of nausea eased, and she lifted her head.
    Mike came into the living room. He’d already dressed and was about to drop by his parents’ house, like he did on most Sundays. “Why is Lexi green? You’re not sick from anything you ate, are you?” Mike asked.
    Ashley rolled her eyes. “No, she’s nauseated from me. I was going to change her bandage for her so it’d look cleaner for tomorrow.”
    “I’m sure that someone at the clinic can do it for you tomorrow, Lexi,” Mike said. “If nothing else, I’m sure my brother will.”
    Lexi sat upright but remained focused on her breathing. It always took her a while to recover from fainting, or even a near-fainting event.
    “How about I help you back upstairs? You can at least rest there a little more comfortably,” Mike offered.
    “I’m sure I’m heavier than Ashley,” Lexi warned.
    “I’m sure