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Her eyesnews earlier this week His father has colon cancer He’s there noith hie four and it’s unlikely he’ll live er"

I push back in my chair "I’m really sorry Let him know I’m here if he needs so I can do"

She leans forward "I’ve decided to go to New York City to be with hier’s o too"

"How does that ier’s movie role?"

"He’s dropped out The announcement will be made later today"

"And you? What are your plans?"

"The December issue is ready for press And I can work on January’s from New York My assistant is back from maternity leave and between her and my intern, who I’d like to hire full-tiether "We could bring in someone temporarily to lessen your workload"

"No! Ben, please This is azine Let me try," she pleads, and a few tears prick her eyes

I stand up and round the desk "Hey Of course I just wanted to lessen your stress I kno important Sound Music is to you I’ll do whatever you think is best"

She glances up at ainst the desk "When are you planning on leaving?"

"Later tonight" She gri when I got off the phone with him I’ll e-mail you all "

My eyes flash to hers "They set a date?"

She nods "New Year’s Eve"

"Oh, that’s quick," is all I can say as my mind wanders back to S’belle

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I’yain, Ben"

I nod "No need to thank me," I say to her as I usher her to the door and head to the locker room I need to clearback grunts as I run like hell, trying to escape hts The treadmill beeps three point five miles in twenty-four minutes,fro out his ti my shirt, I pat my face "Some days it feels that way"

"You seeulp my water and look at him We’re buddies but not in the sairl whose arse you’ve been chasing got you in a snit?"

"We aren’t seeing each other anymore"

He slowed his pace "It’s about bloody time Did you find a new piece yet?"

I shake s like you Soet who outchased hen I ht and day like you"

I blanch at theThen I forceyour ass"

"Are you decent?" Aerie calls out to us

"It’s a gy off the treadmill

She corins at her "But I bet you wish you were"

She puts her finger in her"Not in this lifetime or any other"

I make a T with uy And, Aerie, he’s just trying to rile you and you let hi?" I ask her

"Yes, I wanted to tell you that I just found out that Kaye left her job at the radio station and maybe we should see if she could help us out teles his eyebrows

Aerie rolls her eyes "Kaye Hudson, or Kiazine when the former owner, Damon Wolf, wanted to expand into entertainh"

"That sucks," Kale reets es that don’t io to press That would suck"

"Wow, so you do have a heart," Aerie says

"I’e," Aerie says, exasperated

His lips twitch "I bet you let that guy of yours talk dirty to you"

She ignores him "Ben, should I call her?"

"She won’t take the job"

"Oh, I think sheDaone, I don’t see a probleusted by that news Da over e hooked up "I thought you said you could handle it"

"I can I’ sooner than I can respond?"

"Let’s see how it goes After the New Year we can reassess and go froht have a job by then," Aerie says

I rock back onwhile I was in New York City, and we alsoreconnected one night and things ended badly"

"Oh, I didn’t know" Aerie blushes

"Is this chick that you fked hot?" Kale asks