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“Usually stay in with the fa out”

His eyes lit up “Oh, Katie? Where is she?”

“She…had to go home early”

“But you’re sticking around”

“Not for long Only for enough time to finish my drink”

“Too bad, because—”

I couldn’t take it any on

“OK, Josh?” I asked, cutting hioing on here?”

An expression of surprise forot the iure out if he should keep on with the bullshit fake pleasantry, or get to it

“OK, here’s the deal I’ht now, and I could really use your help”

“A jam? What do I have to do with it?”

“You’ve got so I need” He reached down and took ht here”

Just like how I hated to adrin had a hell of an effect on me, his touch was the same way I should’ve yanked my hand from his and told him to screw off, but I couldn’t The asshole had cast a spell on me

“Congratulations, by the way Is he here?”

Fuck Noas going to have to explain ed But later—not like I needed to explain myself to him

“He’s not,” I said “And you don’t know him, so don’t worry about his name”

“Fair enough” He didn’t seerats all the same Anyway, I’m in kind of a hurry, so can I tell you what’s up?”

I wasn’t in a “doing favors” arded Josh, thehad him shaken His usual cocky confidence was still there in spades, of course, but there was definitely so else What could’ve had the unflappable Josh Taylor feeling off-kilter?

“OK Let’s hear it”

“You remember Melody Hain?”

“Oh, you mean Manic Melody?”

He cocked an eyebrow “I take that as a yes”