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"Here’s the thing," she began

"I hate o Jack" She folded her arms "I told you this would happen"

"You toldbetween us"

"That’s a nice way to describe it"

"Well, you’re the one who hasn’t spoken to me in four days"

"I’ve been busy the past four days! By the ould you turn offme, huh?"

"Perhaps you re to you? The bathtub? Nothing’s co "Look I shouldn’t have done that It was an iize"

"Fine I forgive you," he said

"Gosh, how great But the thing is, Jack," she said, her voice getting tighter, because of course he was apicture was staring hi, E is that at first this was a fake relationship Then you needed a distraction Then you wanted fun Then I fell in love with you"

Well, shit on a steak sandwich She hadn’t randfather clock ticked frorowled and bit Squeaky on the head, getting a soft hiccupping sound

Otherwise, nada "Right," she said "Moving along" She looked at the wallpaper pattern, the little white cherry blossoainst the brown backdrop, and tried not to cry

"Eive him this chance This one microscopic chance to say he loved her, too

He looked at the floor "You don’t mean that"

"Oh, shut up! Of course I do You’re Jack Holland Everyone loves you" Tears stung her eyes Stupid, stupid, stupid E to feel that way for me, and you want to knohy?"

"I sense a trap"

Noas not the ti to be that wo If I twist my ankle, I can tape it up all by myself If my ancient pet dies, I won’t wrap etically at Sarge "Even though I’d be very sad, puppy"

"I don’t--"

"And if I cheat on you and my lover dies, I won’t need you to hold my hand in the hospital"

His head jerked back "How did you hear about that?"

"Everyone’s heard about that"

He didn’t answer

"So," she said, her face hot, "I guess I’ht, and I don’t need one Not everyone has to be in a relationship to feel good about themselves Soured that out"

"But Hadley will always need you She’s the daets off on that And guess what? I hate that you’ve put me in this position I told you we shouldn’t have started this I’ve already coain"

"I don’t want Hadley," he snapped

"Then why is she still in town?"

He didn’t answer

"Because she’ll always have some kind of crisis, and you can always rescue her and be the big hero"

"Stop saying that word!" he barked, and Em actually jumped, she was so surprised "You think I’ a littleaway on life support, because I’h Because when the time came, I failed You think Hadley on a bender e barked, thinking this was terribly exciting, and dropped Squeaky Chicken on Jack’s shoe Jack looked down

"You knohat?" he said, his voice quiet now "This is fine You’re right We should be done I wasn’t really looking for a relationship and neither were you You just wanted a date for a wedding, and I pushed it, and I’m sorry, and that’s fine Take care"

He turned around and went into the foyer, just as Angela was coa pants and a yellow T-shirt "Naant with her accent "Stop yelling at my sister"

"Yeah" With that, he opened the door and went down the steps

Em followed him out "Jack"

He stopped but didn’t turn

"I wish you’d see soe her, just started walking down the street to his truck