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"Vegas is only a four hour drive from here, you know"

She brandished a slotted spoon at hio there, Brian"

"Or you could just move in with me"

"I have this job I’eles to Kansas City is a kil er"

"You could retire"

"Retire?" She gaped at him "I’m thirty-five years old How do you expect me to support o there, Brian You’re going there"

"Then I’lstudio, I’l cal Kansas Citythat I want to be with you?"

No, it rong that she was starting to agree with hie ood"

He dropped his head to the counter and rubbed his face over its surface "Don’t say that I already hed and turned off the pan of pasta Why did he always have to be so sweet to her? He washard for her to keep hith

"Do you have a colander?" she asked

"I have no idea what you’re talking about"

"A strainer To drain the pasta"

"There you go, changing the subject again"

"Would you prefer I leave? I’hed heavily "In the second drawer, next to the refrigerator"

Silence hung between the the meal He eventual y climbed from his stool and set two plates and sets of silverware on the breakfast bar

"Wil Trey and Carly join us?" She glanced at hiain

"Doubtful"

When they sat down to eat, she took his hand "You know my job is important to me, don’t you?"

"I just wish I was ied "I never said you weren’t important to me That’s not why I need this week away from you I have to do ith this research project, Brian If I don’t publish so to have a job for ?"

"I’ research in the first place, but I love to teach I wouldn’t trade that part of hed "The University requires I bring in a certain arant a couple of o I don’t have tenure yet That means I have to make myself financial y valuable to the University or they’l let h to keep me there for another year, hopeful y, but I don’t knohat I’ive this job up I worked too hard to get where I am to throw in the towel now That’s why astiet et it By pressuring you, I’ you away"