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“Shit” He slu was a probleiven me a chance to calht We could have done it again”

“Rough sex doesn’t fix everything Sometimes you actually have to talk”

“I tried to talk to you the other night at that club Wasn’t as on your mind”

I could feel my face heat up It just pissedat the back of his neck “The thing is, I needed to get us straight in ether was the right thing Honestly, Ev, I didn’t want to hurt you again”

A month he’d left ive him a flippant thank-you Or even to flip hiht in your head? That’s great I wish I could get us straight in h to drinksandpaper serious co me crash and burn with an eerie calm

“So, I’m kind of beat” I looked everywhere but at hi you wanted to talk about?”

“No”

“No? There’s more?” Please, God, don’t let there be more

“Yeah”

“Have at it” Time to drink

“I love you”

I spat beer across the table, all over our coet so out of his chair A moment later he was back I sat there like a useless doll while he cleaned ood for Carefully, he pulled back my seat, helped me to my feet and ushered me out of the bar The hum of traffic and rush of city air cleared my senses I had roo They kneas up My boots sto serious distance betweenthe hell away froht on my heels, however

We stopped at a street corner and I punched the button, waiting for the walk light “Don’t say that again”

“Is it such a surprise, really? Why the fk else would I be doing this, huh? Of course I love you”

“Don’t” I turned on hiht I won’t say that again For now But we should talk sootiation wasn’t one Or at least, I was pretty certain I wanted hi for hiht have been Gone so I didn’t have to think about the fact that he now thought he loved me What utter eht on cue I took huge, deep breaths trying to get myself back under control

“Later, not today,” he said, in an affable, reasonable voice I didn’t trust it or hi atroom for conversation He had better not speak At least not until I got htened ht took forever Since when did Portland turn against me? This wasn’t fair