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Next came old trumpets Art from a local sculptor And, finally, pinball e and another seven or eight in the gaah Dad had no way of knowing that Andy had never played pinball in his life, Andy had acted like Dad’s collection was the ed to sound like he’d been playing since he could reach the levers Dad had been smitten, and at the time I’d been thrilled I was only twenty-one and wasn’t sure how my parents would feel about a boyfriend as almost ten years older thanhe could--with his time and his checkbook--to support our relationship and Andy’s ambitions My father was always easy to win over and, once won, his esteem was almost impossible to lose

Unless, of course, he ran into you while you were out at a rohter Despite what ed e he strove to portray, I chose to believe Andy’s side of the story: the wo staff member, depressed over a breakup, and needed so boss

Twoon a the shiny silver balls rack into place Presumably the music and whistles and bells had been disconnected because the game remained eerily quiet as I shot a ball up and over the field, flipped the levers, and nudged thelike crap, but didn’t care

I’d had a few of these quiet, crystallizing moments in the past feeeks Morown up and how little I really knew about life and relationships So Bennett and Chloe, and the quiet way they picked on and adored each other in equal a time

A man or two cauys see pinball by herself But after four ga me

It was as if the skin on the back ofpressed only with the pressure of an exhale Drainingacross the roonize but as also in formal business attire and who stood out in the bar just as clearly as I ray dress and red heels Max watched me over the top of his beer, and when I located hihtly in salute

I finished ame after another twentyto keep rin I was in the mood to see hi loose a tiny smile

"Hey yourself"

I looked to the friend at his side, an olderface and kind, brown eyes

"Sara Dillon, this is Jaood mate of mine"

I reached out, shook his hand "Nice to meet you, James"

"Likewise"

Max took a sip of his beer and then pointed to lass "Sara’s the new head of moneys over at RMG"

James’s eyes widened and he nodded, i here?" I asked, looking around "This doesn’t seem like a place for business in the middle of the day"

"Fucked off work early, just like everyone in this town And what about you, little lea "Never"

His eyes widened slightly, and then he blinked to the bar, nodding at the bartender "I come here because it’s filthy and usually empty and they have Guinness on tap"

"And I come here because they have pool and I like to pretend that I can kick Max’s ass," Ja drink "So let’s play"

I took this asa little at Max "Have fun with that I’ll see you"

"Let me walk you out," he said, and turned to James "Get me another pint and I’ll meet you at the back table"

With Max’s hand pressed to the small ofafternoon sun

"Aw fuck," he groaned with the heat, covering his eyes "It’s better inside Come back in and play with us"

I shookto head hohed but then looked around anxiously when he lifted a hand and touched the side of ht"

"Does Jahtly wounded "No My friends know there’s someone, but not who"

A thick aardness settled between us for a beat, and I didn’t knohat protocol was here It was exactly why the Friday-only arrangeotiation of friends, feelings, or boundaries

"Do you ever think about hoeird it is that we run into each other all the time?" he asked, eyes unreadable

"No," I admitted "Isn’t that the way the world works? In a city of millions you’ll always see the same person"

"But how often is it the person younored my aard silence and pushed on "We’re still on for to his gaze to my lips "Because it’s a holiday, Petal I wasn’t sure I had holiday privileges"

"It’s not a holiday for you"

"Sure it is," he said "It’s the day we got rid of you whinging Americans"

"Ha, ha"

"Lucky for me there are no other holidays on Fridays this year, so I don’t have to worry aboutmy new favorite day of the week"

"Have you looked that far ahead at the calendar?" I felt h to feel the warree heat

"No, I’hed, clucking his tongue playfully "So you toer across my bottom lip "I’ll text"

And he did Almost as soon as I turned the corner and reached the subway, my phone buzzed in h-rise across fro, what floor, even what to wear