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I probably would have just let hi his bartending outfit, a white shirt and black pants, and has a glass in his hand "Hey, Benny, cut her soive a da a lid off a stainless-steel pot "She dropped the f-bo out loud"

"Yeah, but the guy grabbed her ass," Greyson lies, glancing at me quickly "You have to cut her some slack That’s sexual harassrab a large spoon fro, knowing I should put more effort into this, but there is too much heaviness in my chest to care All I seeuess so"

"You guess so or no?" he questions, stirring the boiling water

Greyson presses ave you an easy out

I sigh exhaustedly, forcing myself to put effort into it, because I need rabbed my ass… Sorry I dropped the f-bo spoon atinappropriate words around Understand?"

"Okay"

He frowns, his forehead wrinkling, but he lets et rab et so to have to lose a week’s pay I’uy I stor lot where eray with storm clouds, but the rain has reduced to a drizzle, and the buildings around the restaurant light up the block

I cla lot, my clothes clutched in h gritted teeth: "Fuck hio This one has to be here because the police are reopening the case

Suddenly, I hear the crunch of gravel as someone approaches me "Are you okay?" Greyson asks with concern

I remain motionless "I’rateful he didn’t fire me" I want to say thank you because he helped me, but I’m not even sure hohere to start

"Not about that" He pauses behind uy said to you"

I stab my nails deeper into my palms I should hit hi I need to get this shaking, razor-sharp, painful feeling out of hten He’s walking into ainto because I’ hi feel inside lass filled with a red tinted liquid "It’ll caler simmer "What is it?"

"Vodka and cranberry"

"I don’t drink"

"I didn’t put that lass out with a sylass fro the burn of alcoholfuel to the fire I know this And I should just du the rest of the drink down and then give the elass back to Greyson "Thanks"

"You’re welcoet off work in like thirtyout in the bar and we could catch a bus back to the apart to pick you up?"

"Nah, Luke and he have a party going on at the apartment and I’m sure they’re both too wasted to drive"

I turnjust how much he heard Did he hear that my parents were murdered? That I found them Is there another person in my life now that knows about my messed up past? "How much did you hear?"

"So a beat

Is he for real? I stand there quietly, trying to figure it out, but I can barely understand uess"

His sed and coet you another drink"

I probably should have argued with him, told him that I’y nifies But instead I nod and follow hi into and not caring

Chapter 14

Luke

I’m a lucky son of a bitch I really am, but only because I ownfor alht and I’m up to twelve hundred bucks I probably should stop, but it’s hard once I get riding a winning streak When I sit down at the table, I control al and I realize how much I’ve missed it