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"Sorry," I

"Soht talk to ? Just , I’ve been tapping the countertop, the back of the chair, or even ainst the floor "I…c-c-c-…" I close rins "You just did"

I don’t knohy I did that I feel like a weight has been lifted frootnice," I say, tapping my toe

He kisses me It’s a quick kiss It’s fast and it startles the shit out ofup the kitchen I try to help him, but he brushes me away "Want to watch the chefs cook-off show on TV with me?" he asks as he dries his hands with a towel

I nod, and we go sit on the couch together He’s on one end of the couch and I’ood I need this a to rip my heart into a million and one pieces I’m sure of it

Sam

She’s four feet away froht as well be an ocean between us

I flip channels until I find the chef cook-off show I like I settle back and lift my foot to rest on the coffee table

"I love this show," I say and look at her

"Why aren’t you cooking in real life?" she asks Her thue of the sofa arm

"I do cook in real life" I point toward the kitchen Did she forget the ht

She grins "I mean professionally Why don’t you have your own restaurant or soh the air, like swiping a chalkboard clean She just picked up on the one thing I’ve alanted to do

She shakes her head "It’s not just a hobby"

"I don’t have ti but football" I turn the TV up a little louder and she stops talking about it

After a few minutes of very aard silence, she says, "Do you like football?"

I don’t look away from the TV "Love it"

"Really?"

"Yep"