Chapter 144

"I'll lend it to you." "...I can't pay you back!" "We'll do installments." "..." Claire dug her thumb into her spoon, her heart skipping a beat for just a second before she snapped back to reality. What was she thinking? Only fools reach for the moon! Suppressing the turmoil inside, she poked at the wontons in her bowl and forced an awkward change of subject. "Hey, what's in these wontons? Pork or beef? I can't even tell." Julian let out an exasperated laugh. He scooped all the wontons from his own bowl into hers. "Still can't tell? They're all made of *coward meat*—the kind that wants to play but is too scared, and the kind that eats without taking responsibility." Claire covered her face in shame. *Stop, just stop! I admit I was wrong, okay?!* From a distance, three people—no, four, since Michael had just joined them with his breakfast—watched the scene unfold. Olivia rested her chin in her hands. "This is so heartwarming." Michael sipped his soup. "Knowing him, I doubt it's that hea