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When he got in close he threw a long, slow roundhouse right at my head--easily one of the most incompetent punches I had ever seen I slapped it away and folloith a short right jab to his chin, putting ht behind it Lorenzo went down as if he had been hit with a surface-to-air missile, and in that instant I realized his punch wasn’t inco I realized it because of the way Benny shouted his name and pushed past er in her voice Only concern She knelt at his side on the concrete sidewalk "Are you all right?"

She tried to caress his face, but Lorenzo pushed her hands away She tried again This time he let her succeed

"I’m sorry," Lorenzo said

"No, I’m sorry, I’m sorry," Benita said

Somehow Lorenzo’s head ended up in Benny’s lap, and she stroked his hair

Damn, my inner voice chided me If only you had let Daniel the architect punch you out

"Forgive et this," said I

Benny glanced up atour date is over," I said as I retrieved my jacket

"I’m sorry, McKenzie," she said

Everyone’s sorry Everyone’s looking for forgiveness

I didn’t have anything to say, so I didn’t say anything

If I had been paying attention, I ht have seen him, but I was upset as I made my est to where I’d parked my car next to the trash bins outside the North County Co-op Grocery First Nina, and now Benny, with Shelby Dunston giving advice to the lovelorn fro," I said to no one in particular Still, it all see for years now When it coh school

I had unlocked the Audi with the key-chain reer door, and draped my jacket over the seat when he hit h rip the top of the door to keep fro to et esture, a suggestion that I kne to defend myself I don’t think he noticed

He was six inches taller than I was and at least fifty pounds heavier His long hair and full mustache were jet black, and his features were Hispanic The expression on his face toldhe couldn’t handle

He put a hard fist into s ainst the rocker panel, s drawn up to my chest He hit me twice more with his fists and then a couple of times with the car door