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“I’htly

“You used to be a ?” he said I felt ht or at least quit being embarrassed by it

“That night’s kind of a blur for

“I think everyone there remembers you at the open bar,” he teased He cracked the can open and took a drink, offered it to me I took a sip, sed the bitter coldness, and handed it back to him

“Why do you think he onna work out They were both…”

“Selfish? I guess maybe he loved her or else loved the idea of a pretty wife and a house and so to have He was ready to have that,” Luke said, shoveling the burgers onto the grill

He sat down on the concrete back steps I sat down beside hi on his arm a little I inhaled that pleasant charcoal smell and shut my eyes

“This is really nice,” I said

“Hearing what I think about Ryan’s e?” he joked

“No Just sitting out here, good food on the grill, soed It sounded stupid when I said it aloud I couldn’t shake the feeling that it made me sound pathetic, like I was so starved for attention or so I cleared my throat “Not that I don’t like the lumberyard I do Always have And I see plenty of people there…” I was justit worse

“I see plenty of people at the station and the restaurant But none of the you back home Back here,” he faltered as much as I did, which made me feel a little better

“Is Harlan still the chief down at the station? His wife Ree the subject

“Yeah, he is He’s a good guy Heback in town”

“Oh, so I’m the talk of the firehouse?” I teased He frowned

“You know, anyplace there’s gossip What with you out at the lumberyard, people were bound to notice you were back”