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“Maddie,” I began with a fir ized to you I knohat I did rong, but that’s as far as I go I a per like that with a woman in my entire life and I never will be”

As I finished speaking, the phone went silent on Maddie’s end once again I pulled it away fro I hadn’t, I brought it back

“You there?” I said

“Yeah, I’m here,” she whispered Her voice sounded hollow, distant and unlike anything I’d heard from her before

Picking up a pen froers as the silence between us continued

“I’o,” she said, after another moment or two

One minute earlier, I would have been happy to hear her say that, but noasn’t Not one goddamn bit

I cleared my throat “Maddie, listen Um, let’s…”

And before I could get another word out, she hung up

“Fuck,” I muttered, as I did the same a few seconds later

Afterward, I pushedaround h my hair as I approached the hich looked out over Chicago’s South Side Sliding aze to the west, towards Maddie, and bit my lip

“Fuck”

MADDIE

“Maddie, honey…” Katy began, as she leaned across frolass of wine”

I sat in Katy’s apartether on it over the years Happier times to be sure On a positive note, we’d made up since I came home I couldn’t stayGrey was behind all of it, pulling strings andher, all in an effort to keep control of me

Asshole

“So what? Five glasses or fifty…” I replied I placed the e room table with a decisive clink and continued, “Who cares? I’ll buy more”

Usually by this ti turned to numbness Recently anyway Hell, mouthould have sufficed Katy’s face crinkled with concern As soon as I let go of the glass, she jumped to her feet and snatched it

“Hey!” I yelled “What the fuck?”

“You’ve had enough to drink, Maddie Jesus What are you doing?”

I waved her off and atte home”

I stood and aback to face her

“Bye, bitch!” I exclaimed

I tugged the front door to the apartainstmetal fifteen feet behind me

“Looking for these? Bitch?” Katy said

I spun back to face her My torso rocked to a semi-steady position as I attempted to focus on her hand

“Give them to me, Katy,” I snarled

“No, Maddie!” she yelled “You are drunk and you are my best friend If you want them, you’ll have to come rip them from my cold, dead hand”

I thinned my lips and without a word, broke out in a full dash after her

Katy shrieked and took off running down the hallway The e of her coordination and cut a sharp corner with ease as she headed for the bathrooed into the ith a hard thump

“Ahh! Fuck!” I yelled, as I grabbed hold of my shoulder

Just then I heard her sla my focus, I continued down the hall until I reached the door I banged on it as hard as I could

“Katy!” I screaoddamn keys!”

No sooner had I finished speaking than I heard the toilet flush A few seconds later, the door flew open and Katy shoved ain

“You want ‘eet ‘‘em”

I looked past her shoulder as she turned and headed down the hallway back towards the living room