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"I don’t kno?"

"Pay her for the pizza," he says, with a loud blurt of laughter afterward

"Nice, Nate Real nice"

"Wait, I have oneto decide which is better," he says, and I sigh into him "What are the first two Italian words an art-history ain before I respond "What?"

"Venti cappuccino," he laughs, and I roll my eyes in response "Get it? You know, because you’ll be working at Starbucks…"

"Yeah, got it Thanks," I say, not really liking the jokes

"Oh, co Honestly? I think that’s the perfect thing for you to do You seem to really love art And my mom would totally help you, you know"

I stare at him, then finally speak "I love it when you call me Thirty-three You pretty much had my heart the first time you called me that," I adetting what I want," he says, pulling randfather clock propped up on the ht

The fire is starting to spark less and less, but I don’t want to leave this spot For so at the flaet an idea--etting to my feet He looks up atI’er; he sits back down "Be right back," I say, rushing toto find the pictures of Josh, because I stuffed them in my purse when I packed for this trip I wanted to explain theet rid of the on But for so here--with Nate, in this perfect s in fast-forward for

When I co with his elbows propped on his bent knees, and when I co y open?" I ask, pulling on the small wire frame that covers the front of the fireplace

"Sure Why, you wantin?" He crawls up on his knees and opens the gate a little, but before he reaches for another log, I stop hi in?" The few photos I’ve kept, I now hold in front of s

"Your pictures…of you and Josh," Nate says, and I nod slowly to confirh the seconds while he looks at each one, until he’s seen them all at least twice Then he piles therasped fir on to these"

"I don’t want to anymore," I say, and my conviction stuns me I reach to take thethe Please?"

"Rowe, I…" he starts, but then he looks down, pulling the photos in front of hih his closed fist while he shakes his head When he looks back into my eyes, there’s an un …so to do…for months For years! This isn’t about you It’s about ain But Nate only holds the between his fist and my eyes, until eventually he stands and pushes the photos into his back pocket, and reaches down foraround to sweep my hair behind my ear with his other hand He leans in and brushesboth of his hands up until they cup my face "If you still want to throw them in the fire tomorrow, I’ll build you one, just for that But just do me a favor…wait until tomorrow Just to be sure?"

My eyes are closed, and our lips are still breaths apart, but I can tell this is important to him, so I nod slowly; I feel his body release and exhale when I give in Maybe he’s right, and e, and feeling so certain--feels good enough for tonight