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The door to the back room where Jimmy had been busy earlier stood partly open David’s voice carried to me, clear as day, despite the noise outside It was like I was beco tuned in to hi at the saet out of here with him and do whatever Goas ere together

I just wanted to be with him

The sound of Martha’s raised voice from within the same room decreasedme at the door

I turned to face the fourth member of the band: Ben I reh years ago He played bass and he uard look like a cute, fluffy kitten Short dark hair and the neck of a bull Attractive in a strange, serial-killer kind of way Though it ht have just been the way he looked at s, perhaps Tobut bad

“Let theaze darted to the partially open doorway “You don’t knohat they were like when they were together”

“What?” I edged back a bit and he noticed, taking a step to the side to get closer to the door Trying to maneuver me to the outer

Ben just looked atthe way “Mal said you’re nice and I’m sure you are But she’s my sister David and her have always been crazy about each other, ever since ere kids”

“I don’t understand” I flinched,

“I know”

“Move, Ben”

“I’m sorry Can’t do that”

Fact was, he didn’t need to I held his gaze, ht on one ofthe other to kick the door open Since it had never been fully closed, it swung inith ease

David stood with his back partially turned toward us Martha’s hands were in his hair, holding hily kiss Or maybe that was just the way it looked fro that should have been big, but it wasn’t It , it felt almost oddly inevitable The pieces had all been there I’d been so stupid, trying not to see this Thinking everything would be fine

A noise escaped my throat and David broke away from her He looked over his shoulder at ht

My heartHow bizarre My hands and feet were ice cold I shookout a hand to ave him a hazardous smile No other word for it Her hand stroked over his aruessed she could

David ca in er

“Baby, this is nothing,” he said He reached forh school sweetheart?”

The fa tio It doesn’tto do with us”

The nore Ben and Martha hovering in the background

David swore “Co out of here”