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Nell glances ata bill on the bar Her vapid friends and assle boyfriend follow her, but the Ogre stops in the doorway to stare holes in et back on the stage and fiddle with the tuning on uitar

Kelly comes out from behind the bar and faces“Someone I know”

“You were ready to thron”

“He was hurting her”

“She was letting hiht” I fish s

Kelly eyes me warily “No, it doesn’t But if she lets him, it’s her business I don’t need trouble in my bar You don’t need trouble, period” Kelly’s hand touches my arm, a rare moment of contact between us; part of our post-coital friendship contract is no touching “Colt…you’re doing really good Don’t fk it up Okay?”

“Hoould I do that?”

Kelly gives me a what are you, stupid? look, hand on her popped-out hip “I’ve never seen you look that pissed, Colt You don’t get pissed Which ”

“It’s cos, not looking at Kelly

“It’s always co You’ve left all that behind,” she waves at the bar, at the street beyond,our shared past of violence, “and you don’t need to irl” Well shit I did not mean to say that

Kelly narrows her eyes atback, which I kno hard she works to disguise “I’otta do, but…you knohat, whatever Do whatever you want”

I sigh and finally look up at her “I hear what you’re saying, Special K” I grin at her old nickna “You did not just call rin at her, which alorks

Kelly pretends to swoon, then socks“Shut up and play a song, assle” She swaggers away, and I don’tWe may not hook up anymore, but it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the view

Iuilt I see Nell’s face in my mind, as if I owe her fidelity Which I don’t But I can’t shake the thought So I play the re and Kelly and trouble and hts