The small talk around the dinner table continued throughout the meal and it was centered on safe topics like politics and other worldly current events.

After dinner Jen volunteered to help Kent clean up the dishes. Before dessert could be served, I grabbed my coat and made my way to the door. I paused and looked at our two moms. They had pulled out the photo albums and started reminiscing.

I smiled and cleared my throat, "Well, I'm going to head out. I'm working the dinner shift tonight..."

They glanced towards me and set the album down before coming over to give me goodbye hugs. “Elly, dear, it was so nice to see you. I'm still shocked by your transformation. You're still beautiful, but now it’s easier for a stranger to recognize it.”

"Thanks,” I said softly.

My mom gave my cheek a kiss and then hugged me again. "I'll call you later."

"Okay, Mom." I peeked into the kitchen and waved from a distance, "Bye you guys, Happy Thanksgiving!"

Kent was standing there with Jen and judging by their body language they were in the middle of a whisper fight. Kent looked up and started to make a move towards me but Jen pulled him back. He raised his hand to me instead.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Elly. Thanks for coming."

Jen nodded her head as she gave me a courteous wave.

As I started out the door, I looked back at Kent as he turned back around to finish working on the dishes. I noted that Jen’s polite face was gone. Kent was going to get it good later. I only felt partially bad. He should’ve told her a long time ago. The confrontation he tried to avoid was coming back to bite him in the ass now. And he was a dick to me last week, so his ass deserved some punishment.

Chapter Eleven

Two days before finals I blocked Kent’s exit after class let out. "So, I really need to study. Like today. Like, all day. And tomorrow...all day. Are you still going to help me?"

Kent looked up at me with a raise of his eyebrow. "So you're saying you want to cram as much as you can in the next little bit with hopes of getting a good grade, huh? I dunno, my schedule might be too busy." His finger came up as he tapped his chin and pretended to think. Kent’s serious face made way for a grin as he nodded his head. "Jen went to go help her mom for a few days since she has to gather her things. She's moving to New York."

I exhaled a heavy breath. "Thank God! So can we study at her place then? My dorm room is...well, a mess, and she has a whole apartment..." I bit my lower lip and looked up at him with huge kitten eyes.