No Longer the Clown novel · Chapter 5 of 16

Chapter 5: The Guardian Squad, Out Loud

"What does it look like, Dexter?"

Nobody at the table moved.

Kevin still had his hands up from clapping.

Brooke's face went the color of the roses.

Dexter's buddy set the champagne bottle down very carefully.

Phoebe was the only one who smiled.

"You must be Addie," she said. "Dexter's told me so much about you."

"I'm sure he has."

I walked down the length of the table.

My heels were loud on the wood floor.

The waiters had stopped by the door with the next course on their trays.

"Happy birthday, Phoebe," I said. "It's mine too. Did he tell you that?"

Her smile flickered.

"I didn't know that."

"You booked my table."

"Dexter booked it."

"I booked it in July. I paid the deposit." I looked at the bracelet on her wrist. "And that's mine too."

Her hand went over it.

"Dexter gave me this."

"Dexter took it off my dresser last spring and watched me tear the apartment apart looking for it."

I turned to him.

"You helped me look under the couch."

Dexter put his glass down.

"Addie, let's talk outside."

"No."

"You're making a scene."

"You made the scene. I just walked into it."

I held out my hand to Phoebe.

"Give it back."

She looked at Dexter.

He didn't look at her. He was looking at the waiters.

Phoebe slid the bracelet off slowly and dropped it into my palm.

It was still warm.

I put it on my own wrist. It fit the way it always had.

Then I took out my phone.

"I want to read you all something," I said.

Brooke half stood. "Addie, don't."

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