Lisa

Thank you, Dodger! We're only four days apart!

Awww, thanks, Gary! I'm honored to share the day with YOU!!

Thank you, Lit!

Awww, Emi, this is beautiful! Thank you so much for writing it for me. You're too sweet.

Thanks, Parker! It was a very good day!

Awww, thanks, Daddy! I love the sparkles!!

Thank you, DR!

Awww, thanks, jp!

Thank you, Puppi!!

Thank you, Cassie!!

Thanks, Val! Yeah, jeez, a quarter of a century is a mile marker or something! hehe Thank you also for the doggie cake -- you know the way to my heart! I especially love his name tag -- if there was an 'i' in there, it'd be like my beloved Jessie. Thank you!

Awww, thank, Def! You're too sweet. Thank you for the b-day wishes here and on FB.

Thanks, Reader! I LOVE the cake!!

Thank you, Tim!!

Thanks, Caz for this post and the FB post! I did have a really good day, thank you!

Ron, it is so sweet of you to start this thread! Thank you so much!

I read a few on my phone last night. They were great! I'm looking forward to reading the rest. I always love the anthos! Thank you Renee and Co. for all the hard work you do behind the scenes to make these anthos happen. And Mann, you did an awesome job with the banner!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GARY!!! I hope you had a wonderful day!!

Wow, I am so proud of Joey; he's accomplished so much in the twenty years after graduation. Of course I'm heartbroken over Allen, but I'm so glad they had fifteen years together. Nicky's a pleasure, and it's so wonderful seeing Joey giving his son all the love and support that he never got from his own "parents." Ok, I'll give his mother a little break. With all the happiness I feel for Joey now, I feel the same amount of emotion for Gene---but of sadness. I honestly don't know why his wife is staying with him. Ok, maybe she does love him, but all the signs are there that 'he's just not into you.' Does she really believe bringing a child into the house is going to suddenly make them a happy family? That would be the worst thing they could do. Gene needs to bite the bullet and leave her. He doesn't have to resign himself to be a miserable alcoholic for the rest of his life. He's not being fair to her or to himself.

I've had that ABBA song in my head since I saw the title of the next paragraph, so when Zoe mentioned if Trick changes his mind...it started in a loop all over again. ABBA is one of my all-time favorite groups. I'm glad Cody told Brad the truth, and I'm glad Trick ran into those guys I don't know...I do wanna hear more about Bo, though. However, I don't think Zoe will be too pleased that Brad went to talk to Cody. At least Brad came clean to Trick. I really didn't think he was going to tell him anything.

I'm really glad Trick didn't go for the bitter, snide comments just to hurt Cody. He could tell Cody was sincere and being honest with him. Carrying around all that deep-rooted anger isn't good for anyone. Maybe Trick needs to talk to someone about that, like a therapist. I meant to comment about the three people who entered the coffee & juice place: for a minute I thought it was Brad and Zoe. I couldn't figure out who the second guy would be, though. Unless Zoe's roommate was wearing a disguise! I thought it was obvious they were there to purposely eavesdrop on C&T's conversation. Especially since one of them had a newspaper he was hiding behind! I also liked that you used Bndmtl's comment about ordering tea and muffins!

So, I'm a little confused. Trick is blaming Cody for him being miserable for the first two or three months in his old high school. Trick didn't take notice when Cody suddenly stopped teasing him? Were Cody, Logan, and the other guy (Mason?) in middle school with Trick and teased him there? And what about the new high school---was Trick teased and bullied there too? I'm glad Trick is giving Cody another chance to show him how much he's changed. And will Cody come out to Trick? And will Trick think it's a ruse Cody's using to trick (no pun intended! ) him? Inquiring minds (read: mine) want to know!

You do like cliffhangers I see! I'm proud of Brad for not reading the letter Cody wrote to Trick. I don't know if I would have had that much restraint! The ending seemed promising---at least Trick isn't thinking of running away!

Wow. So Cody's been preparing a speech or something for when they met again? Since Trick had been thinking all day about their brief encounter, I think he's going to change his mind about talking to Cody. Especially after reading the letter (I'm assuming it's from Cody).

Obi! I've been meaning to read this story ever since you started posting it. I finally had some time, so I'm trying to binge read it. And damn, I haven't even finished Strictly Business! I just realized that. I like these new characters, Trick (very cute nickname---I actually thought the story had to do with Halloween because of the word trick and because you posted it a few days before the holiday), Zoe, and Brad. I'm starting to warm up to Cody also. He started to redeem himself when he stopped picking on Trick. It looks like he's going to be miserable in the foreseeable future.