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If that’s true, they were together when I voiced that groveling apology and asked for another chance I’s with no chance at all, or if I said theot shot down anyway

"No I ran into hio, visiting colleges" She leaves out the Graha other people’s secrets than Brooke, though I suspect Brooke lets slip only what she means to disclose

We’re silent while the third course is laid out and our glasses are refilled "Would you like anything else now?" the waiter asks, and we look at each other and shake our heads

"No thanks,Graham in some overcrowded Manhattan coffee shop, with his kid next to hiht when she found out Like, how is that not an instant deal-breaker? What eighteen-year-old girl wants her boyfriend to have a secret kid? And how the hell did he end up saddled with it? I can’t iine nant (they didn’t) and then I said Oh and by the way, I want to keep it I’d have been under psychiatric observation before I could whimper oneinto someone in New York," I prompt

"M to move there? In the fall?"

"Yeah… maybe before that"

"Oh?"

She takes a bite of her pan-seared Alaskan halibut, aselse, I think I take a bite of maitake mushroom and wait her out

Chapter 24

Eets ht not be hush-hush, but is still personal He has this way of posing questions--like he’s just curious and we’re old friends, no big deal, and then boo out stuff about Graham and our relationship Then I catch myself and I think crap, how did that happen?

I haven’t even broached the subject ofto New York early with Graharilled ahi tuna while waiting for me to make another unbridled announcement about my private life The silence stretches taut between us, and finally I glance at hiard me closely, and his compressed lips tell me he’s a you’ve said h, and he laughs, too "How do you do that?"

He shrugs, unashamed, as always "I was raised by a master cross-examiner Plus, I’m sneaky"

"Yeah, you are I have an idea Can we talk about you?"

He sht What do you want to know?"

I prop my chin on o that you and Brooke had reached an understanding" Last fall, I’d have never thought the two of theing pleasantries and acting normal It’s freaky "What did you mean by that?"

His eyebrows quirk up "I wouldn’t call us friends" I stare at hi for more of an answer "But like I said, we decided to call a truce of sorts What happened between us was a long tiood at this as Reid, because when he stops there, I don’t kno to press hie thatto do with Grahaled up in their history, and I’ve felt left out Until thisexcluded was unconscious As if I’d have wanted to be any part of that train wreck

"What, no other questions, counselor?"

My thoughts are full of Graha my phone to check the time Reid did pronore, even if he is playing at condescension

"I do have one more critical inquiry," I say, and he leans up, all ears Suppressing the urge to laugh, I fix a puzzled expression on my face "So… is yellow your favorite color, or what?"

He growls good-naturedly "I swear, I’ht after the pre to take its place, but you probably aren’t interested in talking makes and specs Suffice it to say, it won’t be yellow"

I arch a brow "Is that a nice way of saying I wouldn’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about?"

He laughs, turns one palm up "Well… unless you’ve become a closet car aficionada in the past few months…"

It took Stan, the on-set mechanic for School Pride, half a day to teach me to unlatch the hood of that car for a scene "Er, no, I wouldn’t say that But I can drive, as long as it’s an auto again "Yeah, Euess it’s a good thing I’ to New York, where I won’t need a car"