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"Good," Chris is saying, but I can hear from his tone that he's distracted already I look up, only to find hi across the office at a completely different distraction

Lacy looks good today, I have to adain, I'low about her I've never noticed before—not to mention she's curled her hair and put on a super expensive-looking outfit, all tight curves To judge by the way she keeps peeking over her shoulder in Chris's direction, I think we can all guess why she's pulled out all the stops lately

"What about you?" I nudge him with an elbow, un to lean on in his distraction "You seem pretty spacey lately too"

"Three guesses why" Chris groans and runs a hand through his hair

"What's the matter, did you bite off ht you were the expert at these things"

"Maybe Listen, can we get lunch later, actually? I need souess"

My eyebrows shoot skyward In all the years we've known each other, I don't think Chris has ever once asked me for advice Even when he needed advice, he'd never actually ask for it "Okay" I reply slowly "Chicken Brothers at 1PM?" That gives h time to finish the pile of emails I' that I can pull h this stack of work

"Fine byback toward his own "See you there"

Chicken Brothers, the sandwich shop down the block from our office, is crammed with people e arrive We find a table near the back, and order the saers, because as I tell hiartener, and I order the double chicken patty sandwich, because as he always tells me, I'm an overeater

Personally, I just think he's jealous that h that I can eat pretty much whatever I want and not lose the cut of ym entirely, but that's neither here nor there Today, for once, I don't feel likefun of him as we sit down to our separate meals, and I watch hier selection, not even taking a single bite yet

"Well?" I finally pro here across fro into an aard silence "Are you going to tell me what the hell is up with you?"

"I'roan "Behind on allup excuses every ten le e with me?"

I lift my eyebrows Whatever I expected from this lunch, it wasn't this "You're nors"

"I know, I know So are you, though," he points out with a glance "Maybe it's so in the air"

"Or so in skirts and heels," I reply with a sarcastic lift of my brow

"Or that," Chris groans He sets down his latest chicken finger, still covered in ketchup, abandoning any pretense that he's actually going to eat the thing "I don't knohat the hell has gotten into me lately, Cannon"

"Tell , but Chris takes that as an invitation

"Suddenly it just seems like all I can think about is Lacy I've never been one for pulling that kind of shit, you know et back to my comfortable life before anyone can sink their claws into my chest I kno relationships turn out—I've seen the fallout of those everywhere my whole life"

I nod in sympathy After all, both Chris's parents divorced, re a bit gun-shy about relationships, co from a home like that

"But suddenly, with her, it just The sex is great, don't getback for et her out of my head, now that it's all said and done? Why do I keep thinking about her constantly and why do I actually feel like ht actually want more than just the sex?"

I shakealready finishedto eat the froirl for once"

"But that's not so I do," he protests

Believe h of course, I can't say that out loud "Why can't you try it?" I ask, reasonably, as I finish off my sandwich and reach for my soda

"Because" He flings his hands in the air This draws stares froroans, then leans forward and lowers his voice