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"You gave your tips to Candy"

I dig my shoe under a strip of tarpaper I don’t want to talk about her, so I say, "What would you be if you were a food? No, better! What food would you use your sixth sense to feed yourself?"

He puts a hand on the edge of his chair, holding it pal It would be so easy to slip mine into his I nearly do, but … it’d be an anchor I can’t be anchored

"I haven’t found it yet" He flexes his long fingers, opening his hand even , so I save what I earn And small towns are cozy Familiar You can slip into other people’s routines, becohout of here as fast as I possibly can," I blurt

His fingers curl up "Why?"

"Why not? There’s nothing for me"

"But … it’s your ho here is "

"Where?"

"Don’t know Don’t care I’o any farther Until I find a place that feels like ho tis in the air between us, as frozen as our breaths I don’t have an answer

Ben pokes his head out of the kitchen"Hoere the waffles?"

Candy barely glances at him "Fine Thanks"

He looks lost as he stares at her untouched plate The waffles were crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, with a Nutella filling and sliced strawberries on top Unlike Candy’s, one

"They were fantastic," I offer, but he disappears,to himself

It’s three days until Christmas The diner has never been busier Locals co a holiday bump in freeway travelers, lured by the seasonal coincidence of our exit’s name For once in my career, I don’t pity their optimis for

Ben whips out holiday-the new for Candy And when she inevitably throws it up or rejects it in her zorab Candy’s plate and turn toward the kitchen, looking up ata knife anylass vial with a skull-and-crossbones symbol on it

I cackle so loudly that Candy ju

"Sorry!" I say She flees, straight to the bathroo off items on a list "Benedict! Are you the one who messed with my elf?"

He looks up, distracted, and then shakes his head as though clearing it A smile crinkles his eyes as he pushes his hair away frooofy chef’s hat sits on the counter next to the paper and pen "Not short for Benedict But yes I thought he ought to hted "Nobody even notices hier on my face before he blushes He clears his throat a few ti I don’t knohat to do"

I nudge him with my shoulder "You always knohat to do"