Fraternity Alpha Series, Chapter 8: The Ex

From: Nick Jeffries <address>

To: Amy Malinsky <address>

Dear Amy,

I hope this isn’t too short notice. I’ll be in your part of the world between January 9 and January 14, inclusive. Any chance you’ll be free?

Nick

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From: Amy Malinsky <address>

To: Nick Jeffries <address>

Nick! I’m so glad to hear from you. Three weeks is plenty of notice. You realize you’re being awfully brave flying into Logan in January, yes?

Amy

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From: Nick Jeffries <address>

To: Amy Malinsky <address>

I have some wiggle room in my schedule, so hopefully I’ll be OK. I’m taking the entire next semester off to visit people around the country. I’m not due at my parents’ until Jan 31. If the weather is bad enough, I’ll just rejigger the itinerary. I’m forwarding my flight and hotel details.

Nick

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From: Ayesha Booker <address>

To: <distribution>

Hey all. Who wants to go to dim sum before the holidays kick off and everyone goes to ground? Meet at the China Trade Gate at 11am on Sunday. It’s supposed to be nose hair-freezing cold, so layer up.

Xavi showed up at Amy and Sarah’s place so bundled up that only his eyes showed under his cowboy hat. He had adopted the post-pandemic trick of wearing a KN95 mask to keep his face warm. The group text was filling up with photos of negative COVID tests.

It was strange for Amy to see Xavi standing inside her front door. Somehow she’d never gotten around to...