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Nick sed and looked at the windshield

"You don’t have to tell me," Gabriel said after a minute "I--

I wish I knehy you won’t"

It sounded like it cost hi to say that

"I want to tell you," said Nick

The words fell out of his ainst his will

And as soon as he said them, he realized how true they were

He wanted to tell Gabriel about Adaly about another hu than he ever had, and he couldn’t breathe a word about it

Thehis brother was choking hi that anyway?

I can’t do this, Nick

Nick couldn’t, either He cleared his throat and nodded at the front of the café "I probably should have picked coffee when you suggested it earlier"

"Pick coffee now"

Sit Talk to

Nick took a breath He nodded "Okay"

The café had looked crowded fro up close to the front door confirister wasn’t too long

Still, someplace this packed wouldn’t exactly be conducive to the kind of discussion Nick had in ain, Gabriel probably wouldn’t flip out in the middle of a crowd of people

"We can come back out here to sit," said Gabriel "Plenty of roorees, so all the tables were deserted But sitting in the fresh air would help--

Gabriel knew that This was an olive branch

"It’s not too cold?"

Gabriel dropped into one of the wire chairs in front of the restaurant "Nah I’ll hold the table so we don’t have to play the twin gaht thousand questions they encountered when seen in public together Nick sht"

He waited in line inside the war if this was an olive branch, too: Gabriel giving him time to think

And he needed time to think

Nerves made him jittery What if his brother walked away?

What if he said he wasn’t okay with it?

Creepy Freak

Nick ran a hand through his hair and told himself to calm down

Maybe he should lead off with Adam SoI’ve uy

Maybe not

I know you’re worried about Quinn, but we’re not really together No, not since she caughtto you for years

Sure

The line inched along An older couple caot in line behind him

Nick took another slow breath Maybe this would be like it had been with Michael Maybe it would be okay Aard at first, butokay

No, Gabriel was nothing like Michael Gabriel would have a reaction

Who do you think the hottest person in the restaurant is?

Then Gabriel would pick soirl, and Nick could pick the busboy who looked a little like Ada moron These were the best ideas his brain could coirls ca each other as they moved to the end of the line He could snored the forward one place when the line irl was saying "

out front look like they’re gonna fight"

Fight A word practically synonyhts inside lass, but he could see his brother’s for to soh to ave up his place in line Had Tyler followed thelass storefront to make out Gabriel’s opponent

Adam

Nick’s heart tripped and stalled in his chest He couldn’t remember how to breathe He couldn’t remember how to move

How had this happened?

Adaitated, but he didn’t want to fight

Gabriel shoved him anyway Adam fell back another step

That forced Nick’s feet into motion He needed to stop this

Now

Cold air hit hiry "What the fk do youto my brother?"

"Stop!" Nick said Neither paid attention to hi," said Adaain, harder "A ?"

Adam fell back, but he kept his hands up "Yeah" Now his voice was edged with anger "Just calm down"

"Calain

Adaave up the surrender position and shoved him back