Page 40 (1/2)

"Yeah?"

"This guy Troy He strolled right in and announced that he wants me back"

AJ’s broad shoulders stiffened, but it was difficult to interpret the response Was he jealous? Angry on her behalf? Despite his rigid body language, his shuttered expression revealed nothing

"I see," AJ said slowly "And do you want hi conviction "But seeing hiuess? It reminded me of all the time I invested in the relationship All the ti as a waste of ti we do, every decision weopportunity"

"Yeah, well, I learned never to trust rinned at her, and the dimple in his chin popped out as if on cue "Aw You don’t trust htest," she said cheerfully "You’re an evil s to my body"

"Ha You like it Scratch that--you love it" His teasing expression shifted back to curiosity "So what kind of horrendous things did this Troy do to you?"

"At the beginning? Nothing I was head over heels in love with hih We had a ton in common--he’s a tattoo artist, too A ridiculously talented one" She frowned "At least when he bothers to show up for work"

"A bum, huh?" AJ said as they headed down the next aisle

"Naah, just a guy who likes to have a good tiuine into the cart "He wasn’t the greatest influence on ht, I’d be right there with hi off work for a couple of days and driving up to Maine for a spontaneous beach trip, I was like, sign ret "When I’ I have I work so hard to make the other person happy"

"That’s not necessarily a bad thing"

"It is when you’re the oneall the compromises" She stopped in the frozen-food aisle "And it’s even worse when you do it against your better judgment I mean, I knew I shouldn’t have been out at the bar when I had to be up early the next , but I couldn’t say no to Troy He was addictive"