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Holding the phone up to my ear, I rubbed my face with my other hand and replied, “Okay, what do you want?”

“To say I’m sorry”

I froze Even in h presence ofhim? That was a completely different issue The reason was si the breakup, I’d never heard Trevor utter those words

Not once

Though suspicious, I decided to play along Maybe it wasany emotion in the wake of what he’d say Or, maybe not I didn’t really care However, if he calledup on his ass

I cleared my throat

“Sorry for what?” I asked

“What do youyou, of course What else?”

I chewed the inside of s suddenly surged back through row ainst the surface of my phone

“Okay,” I said, as I tried to keep uess Is that all?”

“No, that’s not all,” he said His voice trailed off at the end “Um, I don’t kno to tell you this”

“Okay?” I replied “Why don’t you just say it?”

“I miss you, Maddie”

“What?” I replied, as I shot to a standing position “What is that supposed to mean, Trevor?”

“Oh Christ, Maddie Don’t make this any harder for me than it already is”

Before I realized it, I foundroom

“Make what harder, Trevor? Am I supposed to knohat this is about?”

He hesitated for a moment “Us Maddie It’s about us”

I stopped in front of the huge sliding glass doors and looked out over the city lights below In every direction they twinkled, winking at lass The word ‘us’ bounced around inball co to rest

After several seconds, Trevor filled the silence

“Maddie? You there?”

“Yes,” I whispered A hard lu the edges ofto betray me

“You okay?”

I lost the battle A tear slid downit away, I sniffled, “What do you think, Trevor? Am I okay? What kind of question is that?”

He released a deep exhale “Maddie, man I’s are different”

I inhaled and strengthened my resolve “What does that mean? Different?”

“Well, it’s my new job At the studio You know—the one I ht?”

“Yeah,” I replied as I regained my composure for a moment “What about it?”

“Well I’ve got pull there, Maddie, for a new project And I think you’d be perfect for a part No, I know you’re perfect for it”

Indignation washed over ht now”

“Don’t do what?” he began “I thought you’d be happy, well, about the audition at least I want another chance with you, Maddie Seeing you at Chef Claude’s I realized how big a mistake I made”

A sudden awareness hit me Now it all made sense

“I’m not with him, Trevor,” I hissed “If that’s what this is all about”

“Who?” Trevor replied

I’d known Trevor Billings since I was a kid The only thing easier than spotting a lie on his face was hearing one in his voice