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"All right" He wheeled back into place, rolling his head on his shoulders in an attempt to ease some of his own tension A woman near tears had that effect on hier thanthe soft blue lines on her skin just invited fingers to trail along theain, he shut the door as he’d proain Brian and Gabriella ive each other shit, but Ian had the distinct iht throttle anyone within reach who upset his sister He’d mentioned how Evan, his brother, had physically hauled hiuy who jilted her For that, Ian wanted to buy Brian a beer, and really it was unfortunate Evan had intervened so soon Surely he would’ve liked to see at least a few punches get thrown Ian certainly would have

They chatted on as he worked Nothing too deep, nothing too emotional She didn’t cry or cuss or scream, but she’d loosened up, and he liked her that way He really liked her a fking lot, more than he should

Once they were done, he explained aftercare and walked her back up front where they set up her next appointh he wanted to tell her to keep it He’d nearly caused her to have an e, and he felt bad about it Maybe she’d needed it, though

After she’d walked out the door, he watched her through the s as she crossed the street to her car No barely leashed anger in her steps any now She’d even had pleasant words for Brian before she’d left

"You’re a braverealized he’d walked up "Thanks for taking one for the tea about? She’s not that bad"

"No, no, it’s not that she’s bad, necessarily"

"Well, then, what?"

"High strung Perfectionist"

Oh yeah That he could see He could also see that she see her e with hio there

Brian shrugged "And now, after having that guy du I think it’s an early midlife crisis She used to hardly ever drink, but now she’ll hit a bar in a heartbeat Mohts that she didn’t come home, so who knoent on there"

That disturbed hiot that she was in pain, and everyone needed to blow off steaht future He hoped she wasn’t spiraling sothat away

"And now the clincher," Brian said, sighing as he turned to go "She caue with his boss, especially when said boss knew Gabriella infinitely better than he did But after talking with her, he had aup here was about spiraling at all He thought, just