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Which sucks because I’m out withback hoo tomorrow We meet for dinner and end up at the bar in his hotel after

"Seen anyone since May?" he asks once the waitress, who’s trying her damnedest to act like she doesn’t knoho the two of us are, leaves our drinks

"Partied with Quinton once, and ran into Jenna at an awards show lastpretty hot" Tadd pauses, his dirty martini halfway to his lips "Dude, Jenna’s like sixteen"

"God, what the hel is it with everyone and the underage girl alert? I’h ht of the whole Gabriel e-Dori issue, Iyou of anything" Tadd leans up, elbows on the table "I know you’re smarter than that" He smirks "As h and shaketo the fact that you wrecked your car and almost kil ed yourself… but yeah, man, you screwed up your love life, too"

We’re silent for aforto ask "Have you seen her?"

He leans back, gives ot together a couple of weeks ago in New York She’s starting NYU in a feeeks, but she moved there last month She and Grahaine the two of the to feel wounded, but it’s not real y there "So that whole thing is working out, I guess"

"So far, yeah" Tadd takes a sip of the e of a hair hanging perpetual y over his right eye "I met up with both of them, actual y They seem comfortable--like, they fit, you know? I can shut up now"

I shrug and shake ly, I realize I ular source, or stil breaking hearts and bal s al over the country?"

Tadd leans up again, his face earnest "Dude, I o, and I’m so in love it’s not even funny I’ht, Thaddeus" I put up"So who is he?" I lean up "Are you about to out somebody? Cause if so, you know you can trust me"

"Nah, he’s an architect So daeous, funny, sexy…" He’s lost in his own thoughts for a couple of seconds

"Okay, okay, stop or I’hs

"Dude--it’s al we can do to keep our hands off of each other in public It’s always felt a little daring--al the covert stuff" He shrugs "I’ve never felt like this before I want to hold his hand e’re walking, or brush the hair out of his eyes when he’s got coffee in one hand and the dog’s leash in the other" His ain as he stares into his drink "It’s different when you’re in love"

I think of al of the things I take for granted I could grab a stranger, kiss her in public, and the worst anyone wil think or say is get a room Tadd’s in love, but they can’t hold hands in ht do or say

"Sucks to be you, onna punch me in the arm I flinch and spil part ofwhen he says, "So what about you?

We’re both laughing when he says, "So what about you?

Anybody new?"

I shake my head "You don’t even want to know"

"Oh?" Both eyebrows angle up as he leans closer "Oh, yes I do I so do Lay it on irl from the Habitat place?"

Da off of a patio"

Out of nowhere I re froht her Her face flaled to move off of race, but she was already so humiliated that I couldn’t do it I fol owed her inside instead

I don’t knohat I expected I sure didn’t expect to try to kiss her--that was coers across my scalp to search for stray bits of fruit, I had a sharp, three-second vision of her lying underinto my hair as I lean down to kiss her

"Earth to Reid" Tadd’s voice is pure cynicism I blink and look up and he shakes his head slowly "Oh, yeah

There’s nothing going on there Not at al " Busted "Yeah, wel , she’s not the slightest bit intono-means-no sort of way And then disappeared for the rest of the week"

Tadd smiles and holds his drink aloft towards es, dude"