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"In a little bit I have to go by and pick up my check Then Jen will drop me off Where are you?"

"Headed hoood Owen should be there He just calledto change where he goes to school?"

She sighs "Yeah He doesn’t h he’ll ether whenever he wants"

"It’ll work out," I reassure her

"I hope so I’ll see you soon, okay?" She hangs up before I can tell her I love her and I stare atwith Fable has turnedagain This ti myself for the inevitable speords over his hatred for his wife "Hey, Dad"

"Where’s Adele? Have you seen her?"

I stop in theby to bump into me "Why would I see her? Where is she?"

"I don’t know We…talked this ht you up Said she needed to see you and took off inHave you seen her? Did she come there?"

"Of course I haven’t seen her" Dread creeps overmy head spin "Why would she want to co to tell you" He pauses "Don’t turn her away, okay? Please? Hear her out, whatever she has to say I’ to you to ask if you would help convince , funny considering only last night he’d been a raggedways

He’s way off base with her wanting to talk toI would do is hear her out over how ether She wouldn’t have the balls to do so else to this story So I don’t want to know

"If you see her, call me Promise?"

"I promise," I say before I end the call

The entire drive back to uar but I don’t spot it anywhere That type of car is a die town that’s filled laring beacon

Thank God I don’t spot the Jag in ed that bullet, I head toward my apartment, surprised to find the door unlocked when I enter

Surprised evennext to her and looking incredibly uneasy

"Andrew!" She stands, pushing her long dark hair over her shoulder "You’re ho up so fast from that couch he reminded me of a jack in the box He looks uncomfortable, he’ll hardly meet my eyes, and I’m instantly taken back

How she used to spend all of her ti me At first, she made me nervous I wasn’t used to that sort of constant, al attention But after a while, I started to crave it She knew exactly what she was doing, how she wasme to fall under her spell

"Get away fro the both of the hands off hi, sultry look "He’s a sweet, sweet boy, Andrew, ree Tall and handso to be quite the looker someday"

I’ve never been tempted to do harm to a woman in my life At this very moment, if I could wraplife out of her, I’d have no regrets "Go to your room, Owen," I de the door so hard, Adele jumps, then titters nervously

"You don’t need to scare the poor boy I didn’t do a thing to him You know I only have eyes for you" She co fronore what she said She’s just trying to get a rise out of hs "I parked it on the street, behind this building Pretty devious, right? I knew you would flip if you saw the car Knew that your dad would contact you and ask you to look for me Heaven forbid he actually do it himself" She plops down on the couch, her body draped across it "You have a nice place here Why does your little slut’s brother live with you?"

"It’s none of your goddamn business," I bite out "You call Fable a slut one more time, I won’t be held responsible for what I do to you"

"Such anger You know, I’ether I didn’t pick her as your type" She tilts her head and smiles "You deserve someone so much prettier, a better match for you You have so irl like Fable"

Adele spits out Fable’s name like it’s poison Fable does much the same with Adele’s name "I already told you, watch what you say"

She waves a hand "What are your plans for the future anyway, h on to pro ball? I know that’s your dream I think you could do it You’ve always chased your dreae"

What is she talking about? "I’ next You need to leave"

Her eyes widen in feigned shock "Why, Drew, I can’t believe you would say such a thing to et rid of me?"

"Yes," I tell her bluntly

We stare at each other blindly for a long, uncomfortable moment, until finally her eyes narrow and she rests her hands on her hips "I’ to tell your dad about you andyou can do to stop me either"